Basildon: pair convicted of GBH after car chase attack
Two people have been convicted of grievous bodily harm (GBH) following a violent car chase that left a man seriously injured in Basildon.
Detectives established that the victim was pursued by two vehicles from Westcliff onto the A127 at around 10pm on 22 October 2022.
The chase continued into Basildon, where the victim was eventually forced to stop.
Officers found that a group, travelling in a black Toyota Corolla, blocked the victim’s car before attacking it with a baseball bat.
CCTV, doorbell footage and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras helped investigators piece together the घटनाओं, showing how the victim’s red Peugeot was chased to Uppermayne.
During the incident, the victim called police while still driving. As he travelled along Uppermayne, his vehicle was rammed by a BMW, causing him to crash into a tree on the central reservation.
The force of the collision threw the victim from his car and onto the road. The Toyota was then driven towards him before fleeing the scene.
When officers arrived, the BMW remained at the scene along with its driver, who was identified as Hollie Dance, 50, of Alton Gardens, Southend. She was arrested at the scene.
Thomas Summers, 26, also of Alton Gardens, was later identified as the driver of the Toyota and was arrested the following morning.
During police interviews, Dance claimed she had been involved in a collision and had only followed the victim to exchange details, alleging her own car had been rammed. Summers gave no comment.
Both were charged with multiple offences and denied the allegations.
However, at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday 1 April, Dance was found guilty of GBH with intent and possessing a weapon adapted for the discharge of a noxious substance. Summers was convicted of GBH with intent and affray, but cleared of possessing an offensive weapon.
They are due to be sentenced on 29 May.
Acting Detective Sergeant Amy Day, who led the investigation, said the pair’s actions were “reckless and dangerous”.
“They put the victim’s safety at risk but also that of other people on the road,” she said. “They showed clear intent to hurt the victim, and the reality is that the outcome of this incident could have had even more serious consequences.
“I am pleased that our thorough investigation has been able to hold them responsible.”
A third man, Rhys Bentley, 25, of Norwich Avenue, Southend, was found not guilty of GBH with intent, affray, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.