Leicester Wedding Car Attack: Govinder Singh's Sentence Increased to 10 Years
Govinder Singh, a 28-year-old man from Leicester, will now spend more time in prison after his jail sentence was increased for a violent car attack at a wedding. The Court of Appeal has raised his sentence from seven-and-a-half years to ten years, following a referral by the Solicitor General.
Details of the Violent Incident
The incident occurred in May last year in Leicester, when Singh drove his Volkswagen into a crowd of people outside a wedding venue. This reckless act seriously injured three individuals, with one victim suffering life-altering injuries. The attack was sparked after Singh's brother, who had arrived drunk and uninvited to the wedding, was ejected from the event.
When a fight broke out in the street, Singh deliberately ploughed his car into the crowd. He then exited the vehicle and assaulted people before driving away to park near his house. In an attempt to evade detection, he removed and hid the licence plates, but police located the car shortly afterwards.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Singh pleaded guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm and wounding with intent at Leicester Crown Court, where he was initially sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison. However, the Solicitor General, Ellie Reeves, referred the case to the Court of Appeal, arguing that the original term was unduly lenient.
At a hearing on Friday, Lord Justice Dingemans, along with Mr Justice Butcher and Judge Peter Blair KC, ruled that the initial sentence was plainly insufficient to reflect the full criminality of Singh's actions. The judges highlighted the severe injuries sustained by the victims:
- One person suffered fractures to the spine.
- Another had a bleed on the brain.
- A third victim sustained a 5cm wound to the back of his head.
The court also noted that Singh lied about the incident, falsely claiming he had given his car to someone else and was unsure who drove it away.
Official Statements and Reactions
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves welcomed the Court of Appeal's decision, stating: Govinder Singh got behind that driving wheel intending to cause maximum damage. Through his sheer recklessness, he hurt several people, including his cousin, and has left one person with life-altering injuries. She emphasised that the increased sentence recognises the unnecessary and wild actions taken by Singh on that tragic night.
This case underscores the legal system's commitment to ensuring that sentences adequately reflect the severity of violent crimes, particularly those involving premeditated attacks on innocent bystanders.
