Driver who crashed into house, injuring three, jailed for five years

James Andrew Sparham’s high-performance VW Golf R burst into flames when it came off the road in Rawcliffe, York.

North Yorkshire Police said David Garnett, who was watching television at the time of the crash, suffered serious life-changing injuries and had to endure a long stay in hospital, while his wife Claire is still recovering from the stress of the incident.

The 29-year-old driver’s two passengers – a woman in her 30s and a man in his 20s – also sustained broken bones and lacerations.

The labourer, of Geldof Road, Huntington, York, was jailed at York Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and criminal damage.

North Yorkshire Police said he was also banned from driving for seven-and-a-half years.

The incident took place on Morehall Close in the early hours of September 3.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews arrived to find a hole in the house and Sparham’s Golf ablaze in the living room, next to the sofa.

The three occupants, including a child, in the house at the time managed to escape with help of local residents.

Witnesses later told police they heard “screeching” and saw the Golf being driven in a “dangerous” manner immediately before the crash.

North Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Investigation Team launched an investigation and carried out extensive forensic tests to determine what had happened.

Experts were unable to find any evidence that Sparham had tried to avoid a collision or any defects with the vehicle.

They also recreated the incident in a controlled environment, using a similar car, and determined that even with the steering at full lock, the car should not have lost control.

A statement released by North Yorkshire Police on behalf of the family described the “sound of a bomb going off” and how Mrs Garnett was forced to clear the debris burying her 54-year-old husband after the car crashed into their home.

The statement said: “Claire climbed over the burning car and cleared rubble off David then climbed back over it having to carry and pull David over the burning car all the while terrified it would explode.

“Claire fortunately rescued David to the rear of their home whilst the car set alight in their lounge setting fire to the house and its contents all of which have been lost.

“As a result of the incident David sustained multiple injuries including loss of vision in his right eye, extreme lower limb injuries requiring extensive skin grafts, a broken nose and numerous soft tissue lacerations and injuries.

“David required a six-week period of hospitalisation at the Leeds Major Trauma unit and York Hospital and a gruelling period of treatment thereafter which is ongoing. David is going to be left with life- long injuries as a result of this criminal incident.

“Claire has suffered back and neck injuries as well as extensive soft tissue trauma and both have suffered severe post traumatic stress.

“The one place anyone should always be able to feel safe is within the four walls of your own home.”

After the hearing, Detective Sergeant Jeremy Bartley of the Major Collision Investigation Team, who led the investigation, said: “The choices Sparham made that night have had a catastrophic impact on innocent people.

“The damage he did was not just to a family’s home, but also to their health and their well-being – damage which continues to this day. Lives have been changed forever.

“The sad thing is, our investigation has shown that this incident was absolutely avoidable. It didn’t have to happen. It was an act of stupidity that had dire consequences.”