A couple are suing a wealthy businessman after he crashed his McLaren supercar into their home for ‘cheap thrills’ causing £250,000 of damage.
Zachary Hocking, 28, was drunk and driving at 91mph – three times the speed limit – when he lost control of the £90,000 sports car, in the early hours of December 23, 2023.
The company director smashed into a lamppost before crashing into the home of Mandy and David Withers, who were fast asleep.
The terrified couple, who were woken by an ‘enormous bang,’ looked outside to see the blue McLaren 570GT, which had exploded, on fire close to their front door.
Hocking, who had been thrown from the vehicle – still strapped into his seat – by the force of the impact was badly injured.
His passenger was also seriously hurt and had to be cut free by firefighters.
Mr and Mrs Withers quickly evacuated their home, in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, but the fire blew out a downstairs window and caused extensive damage inside.
They lost all their belongings in the blaze which also destroyed their own car which was parked outside.
More than £250k of damage was caused to the Withers’ home in Lytham St Annes
The McLaren 570GT supercar was virtually destroyed in the crash and blaze
Hocking was flung from the car and his passenger had to be pulled free from the wreckage
Zachary Hocking, 28, admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for 28 months at Preston Crown Court last month
The couple were forced to move out for 14 months while the property was renovated and made habitable again.
Hocking, the director of several holiday parks in Lancashire, admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for 28 months at Preston Crown Court last month.
Judge Paul Hodgkinson told ‘selfish’ Hocking he had ‘wrecked’ Mr and Mrs Withers’ lives, adding: ‘You have cost them financially, emotionally, physically and mentally – both now suffer post-traumatic stress disorder because of your selfish thrill-seeking behaviour.’
The couple are furious that Hocking was not charged in connection with the damage to their home and are suing him for compensation.
They were forced to claim on their own insurance because Hocking was uninsured.
Mr Withers, 64, an accountant, said the past two years had been a ‘living hell.’
‘The events of December 23 resulted in a living nightmare that continues to engulf our every day,’ he said.
‘We were kicked out of our home, through no fault of our own, and had to live in a one-bedroom apartment for 14 months. We lost virtually every possession to smoke and carbon damage. The house had to be completely refurbished.’
Mr Withers added that his wife, who runs an antiques shop, was a ‘changed woman’ and finds day to day life ‘very hard.’
She was unable to open her store for much of last year because of the stress of the case, was hospitalised and spent two days in intensive care after taking an overdose.
‘Every day since it happened we have had to deal with the aftermath of the damage caused by Mr Hocking, who has shown no remorse,’ Mrs Withers, 59, told the court.
‘We’ve lost all our belongings and precious keepsakes from our children, missed time with our family and it has cost us financially.’
The couple said both of them had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and forced to go on anti-depressants.
‘The implications of what happened go on forever for us,’ Mr Withers added. ‘We continually feel nervous and unsafe when we hear cars speeding outside our house. We will probably never be the same people again.’
Photographs of the McLaren taken by police revealed it was virtually destroyed in the crash and ensuing fireball.
Inspector Greg Laidlow, of Lancashire Police, said: ‘You only need to look at the wreckage of the car to conclude it’s a miracle that no-one was killed.’
The officer described Hocking’s driving as ‘extremely reckless and selfish,’ adding: ‘He will not be allowed behind the wheel for a long period of time.’
Hocking, of Lytham St Annes, was also banned from driving for 74 months.
