A teenager who left a mother paralysed from the neck down after filming himself driving without his hands on the wheel was jailed for 26 months today.
George Taylor was 17 when he used his knees to steer his car while recording himself overtaking other vehicles shortly before he ploughed into one driven by Catherine Davies, who was stationary at a junction.
The fitness instructor wasn’t expected to survive the catastrophic brain and spinal injuries she sustained but was stabilised after surgery.
But the single mother, 51, who has a ten-year-old son, now relies on round-the-clock care in a specially adapted property fitted with life-support equipment.
Taylor, who will serve his time in a young offenders’ institution, appeared at Norwich Crown Court today to be sentenced after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The teenager is now 19 and the offence carried a maximum jail term of five years.
Describing the case as ‘very sad’, Judge Anthony Bate said: ‘The defendant was using his phone multiple times throughout the journey…it is remarkable that the defendant did not collide with somebody sooner.’
Ms Davies’ father Jeremy, 76, a retired civil servant, spoke afterwards to warn other drivers about the risks of failing to concentrate on the road.
Catherine Davies, a fitness instructor at the time, was left a paraplegic by the young driver who had been using his phone in the car
Catherine Davies now relies on a tracheostomy – an opening in her windpipe – to allow her to breathe and has an ‘eye-gazing’ machine to help her communicate as her vocal chords were severely damaged, which limits her speech
‘I’ll never forget that day when we were told she had been in an accident and then arriving at hospital to face the reality that we may lose her,’ he said.
‘The past 22 months have been traumatic and, while I can’t change anything, I hope that by speaking out I can make others aware of what can happen on the roads. Catherine’s life was changed in a split second and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.’
Ms Davies was waiting at a junction of the A47 between Hockering and Honingham in Norfolk on January 18 last year when her Skoda Fabia was hit by Taylor’s VW Golf, which witnesses said appeared not to react to traffic ahead of it.
An investigation by Norfolk Police found photos and videos that showed he had recorded himself driving without his hands on the steering wheel as he dangerously overtook other cars.
He had also sent videos, text messages and made phone calls.
At the moment of the crash, he told police he was leaning over to move his phone from a cupholder so that he could reach his vape.
Gravely injured Ms Davies was put on palliative care in hospital but survived following surgery to her spine.
She spent two years in various hospitals including the Princess Alexandra Hospital spinal injuries unit in Sheffield, and was only discharged earlier this month.
George Taylor, aged 19 pictured outside court. The teenager filmed himself driving without his hands on the wheel and has now been jailed for 26 months
She now relies on a tracheostomy – an opening in her windpipe – to allow her to breathe and has an ‘eye-gazing’ machine to help her communicate as her vocal chords were severely damaged, which limits her speech.
Prior to her injuries, she worked on cruise ships and in retail, before qualifying as a consultant working in estate planning and will writing. In her spare time, she ran fitness classes as a qualified personal trainer.
In a victim impact statement, her father said she had been dating a new partner and they were looking to buy a house together before the crash.
He added: ‘She will never breathe for herself again. She will never taste food again. She will never be able to hug her son again.’
Tractor driver Taylor, who was not represented in court as he failed to qualify for legal aid, was asked if he wanted to say anything to his victim and her family.
The father-to-be, whose partner is expecting their first child in February, said: ‘I would like to apologise. I know it does not bear much in the situation and I know it won’t change anything.
‘I wish I had never got a licence and had never got a car. I cannot say anything more than sorry.’
He spent much of the hearing gazing at the floor before being led from the dock to begin his sentence.
Ruth Booy, a specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who represented Ms Davies and her family, said: ‘This is a truly tragic case where a loving mum has suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the selfish and dangerous actions of another driver.
‘What happened to Catherine is yet another stark reminder of the devastating consequences people can be left to face because of the actions of those who think it’s acceptable to break the law.
‘The dangers of using a mobile phone while driving should never be downplayed.’
Lead investigating officer Sgt Callum Walchester, of Norfolk Police, added: ‘This is a deeply tragic case which, like many collisions, could have been entirely avoidable.
‘Catherine was a fit and healthy mother who now, because of Taylor’s actions, will live out the rest of her life paralysed, requiring life-long care and support.
‘George Taylor made multiple decisions to use his mobile phone that day and, in doing so, put himself and everyone else at significant risk. It was Catherine who paid the price.’
He added: ‘It doesn’t matter how good a driver you may think you are. By using your mobile phone, you are risking the life of every road user you encounter.’
Taylor, whose sentence was reduced because of his ‘genuine remorse’ and early guilty plea, was also banned from driving for 40 months.
