Shania Care-Slede, 20, who is due to stand trial next year accused of causing a wildfire on the moors near Dovestone Reservoir, has appeared in court to be sentenced for dangerous driving.
She was seen on camera with a balloon at her mouth. Prosecutors say she inhaled nitrous oxide. A court heard she was also seen driving without her hands on the steering wheel on July 11 this year and using her phone. She pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at a previous hearing.
Suspended sentence for dangerous driving
At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday (September 29), Ms Care-Slede was handed a suspended jail term for the dangerous driving offence.
Adam Lodge, prosecuting, told Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court: "[A] The video shows the rear seat passenger filming events including putting his mouth on a balloon, which the Crown says is nitrous oxide.
"He then films the driver who is shown not to be wearing a seatbelt and holding a balloon close to her mouth. The defendant also has her phone in her hand and can be seen scrolling through social media posts. In a further post, the defendant is driving her car with a balloon in her mouth."
The prosecutor said Ms Care-Slede's driving fell 'far below' the standard expected. Nobody was hurt. Ms Care-Slede was arrested and interviewed and provided a statement to police. The court heard she had no previous convictions.
Court hears of defendant's studies
David James, mitigating, said Ms Care-Slede is studying to become a qualified paramedic and is undertaking courses in beauty therapy.
"She recognises she needs to be punished," he added. "She is having to grow up quickly. She understands her position and what she has done."
Sentencing, Judge Neil Usher said: "From the brief mobile phone footage it demonstrates, in my judgement, seriously dangerous driving. At one stage you had neither hand controlling the car. Fortunately, your driving did not cause injury or damage.
"There is no evidence of criminal intentions. You have been punished already to a degree - you lost your home and employment and spent a short period in custody."
The judge accepted Ms Care-Slede made a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road, adding that it was a 'prolonged and persistent' case of dangerous driving.
Arson trial next year
Ms Care-Slede, of Sherbourne Road, Middleton, was handed a 20-week sentence, suspended for 12 months. She was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for a year.
Ms Care-Slede was earlier also charged with arson; and arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered (aggravated arson).
It came after a wildfire broke out near Dovestone Reservoir. The particulars of the first charge are that on July 11, 2026 she committed aggravated arson 'destroying by fire moorland belonging to United Utilities', being reckless as to whether the life of others was endangered.
The separate charge of arson alleges that without lawful excuse, she 'destroyed by fire' moorland belonging to United Utilities being reckless as to whether it was destroyed or damaged.
She faces a trial on the arson charges next year.
