Beautician's 'Silly Mistake' After Mercedes Crash in Chester Night Out Incident

A 24-year-old beautician who crashed her Mercedes into another vehicle following a night out with friends in Chester has been spared a jail sentence despite the serious nature of the incident. Mia Pritchard careered her six-speed Mercedes A-Class into the back of a stationary VW Polo at traffic lights, then made the decision to flee the scene rather than stop and exchange details.

The Night Out Collision

The shocking incident occurred just before midnight on November 8 last year on Watergate Street in Chester city centre, with the Polo driver stationary at traffic lights heading towards Chester Racecourse. According to court proceedings, Pritchard smashed into the rear of the Polo with significant force, causing substantial damage to both vehicles.

Rather than stopping to check on the other driver or report the collision, Pritchard reversed away from the scene and drove off as the shaken Polo driver attempted to regain composure. The court heard how the Mercedes was later found abandoned and "undriveable" approximately three miles away the following morning, having suffered heavy front-end damage.

Vehicle Damage and Concealment Attempts

The Mercedes A-Class sustained such severe damage that it was subsequently written off by insurers. The near-side suspension had been completely ripped away from the vehicle body, and one of the alloy wheels was smashed beyond repair. Forensic examination suggested the car had mounted a kerb during the incident, contributing to the catastrophic damage.

More concerningly, attempts appeared to have been made to conceal the vehicle's identity. The front registration plate had been completely removed when police discovered the abandoned car, while half of the rear plate had snapped off. Prosecutors suggested this represented a deliberate attempt to avoid identification, though Pritchard denied this allegation during questioning.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

At Chester Magistrates' Court, Pritchard admitted failing to stop and report an accident, an offence that could have resulted in up to six months imprisonment under sentencing guidelines. However, magistrates decided against a custodial sentence after hearing mitigation about her personal circumstances and psychological state.

Presiding Justice of the Peace Andrew Antoniou told Pritchard: "This is really a very serious matter and you are fortunate that you are not going to receive a custodial sentence. There was an accident, the car was written off and you did not report it till the following day. Our job as magistrates is to keep the public safe from people who drive like this."

Mitigating Factors and Previous Offence

The defence presented several mitigating factors that influenced the court's decision:

Pritchard claimed the collision triggered traumatic memories of a serious road accident in 2017 when she was 17, which left her hospitalised with a bleed on the brain
She explained this trauma had delayed her learning to drive until her early twenties
Her defence solicitor stated she "panicked" after the impact and made a "silly decision" to drive away
Pritchard serves as primary carer for her 11-year-old brother who has learning difficulties
She has been diagnosed with anxiety, which her legal team suggested stemmed from the earlier collision

Notably, this incident occurred just two months after Pritchard had appeared in court and been fined £480 for assaulting a police officer during an altercation in Chester, adding context to her recent encounters with the justice system.

Final Penalties and Driving Ban

Instead of imprisonment, Pritchard received:

200 hours of unpaid community work
10 rehabilitation activity days, including a driving course
An 18-month driving disqualification
£85 in court costs
A £114 victim surcharge

The Polo driver, who was fortunately not believed to have sustained physical injuries, managed to memorise the Mercedes' registration number before it fled the scene, enabling police to trace Pritchard. During police interviews, Pritchard denied consuming alcohol before the collision and rejected suggestions she had deliberately removed the number plates to avoid detection.

This case highlights the complex considerations magistrates must balance between public safety, the seriousness of offences, and individual circumstances when determining appropriate sentences for traffic violations with aggravating factors like failing to stop.