A mother who boasted about being a rally driver has been jailed after rolling her car at 80mph while under the influence of alcohol and drugs, with five children packed inside the vehicle.
Reckless Driving Incident in Staffordshire
Faye Dawson, 50, took off at what was described as 'incredibly high speed' before crashing the five-seat Vauxhall Corsa at 11.20pm in March last year, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard. The dangerous driver failed to slow for roundabouts, crossed onto the wrong side of the road, and narrowly missed parked cars in a residential area as her young passengers begged her to slow down.
Dashcam Captured Chilling Bragging
A dashcam recording captured cannabis-addled Dawson bragging during the drive. She could be heard saying: 'I am a rally car driver and a b***h. If you die I am not responsible. This is what I do every day on a Friday night after a drink.' She added: 'Now I am on alcohol and have had a smoke I am even more dangerous. If you are not comfortable do not come in my car.'
The children, who Dawson was giving a lift home, could be heard shouting, 'Slow down, slow down' prior to the crash in Cheadle, Staffordshire. Dawson had collected the teenagers from a property in the town to drive to Meir, Stoke-on-Trent.
Severe Injuries and Lasting Trauma
The court heard that four of the children - aged 14 and 15 - were injured in the crash. One of them was detained in hospital and suffered a spine fracture. In a victim statement, one child said: 'I felt trapped and terrified. I felt powerless. I remember screaming. I genuinely believed I was going to die. I have suffered flashbacks and panic attacks. I was shaking uncontrollably.'
The girl who suffered the fracture in her back stated: 'I thought I was going to die. I had to have time off school to recover. I feel very anxious in vehicles. I have nightmares and flashbacks. I had to live with back pain for six months.'
Court Sentencing and Judge's Remarks
Dawson, from Cheadle, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. She was jailed for 14 months on March 25. The court also handed her a 55-month driving ban and ordered she must take an extended retest.
Judge Richard McConaghy told her: 'Your appalling arrogance caught up with you. When doing nearly 80mph you lost control of the car and rolled it. You injured a number of your passengers. It was a miracle that you did not kill somebody.'
The judge noted: 'You were recorded shouting about what had happened to your car, not about what had happened to the children who were in it. You are lucky that you have been charged with dangerous driving and not causing serious injury by dangerous driving.'
He added: 'You made a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road. Your driving was impaired by the consumption of alcohol and drugs. I do accept you show genuine remorse for what happened. The offending is so serious that only immediate custody is appropriate.'
Mitigation and Remorse
Robert Holt, mitigating, said Dawson has become a recluse which has exacerbated her post-traumatic stress disorder. Mr Holt stated: 'She will never drive again, such is the traumatic effect of what took place. She feels genuine remorse and empathy with the people in the car that night. She has no interest in driving again.'
The case highlights the severe consequences of driving under the influence, particularly when endangering young passengers. Dawson's actions have left lasting physical and psychological scars on the children involved, while she faces a substantial prison sentence and lengthy driving ban.
