Man jailed for causing life-changing injuries to Met Police officer following road traffic collision

A man from Ipswich has been jailed after causing life changing injuries to a woman following a road traffic collision in Ipswich.

32-year-old Carl Horsnell, of Henniker Road in Ipswich, appeared before a crown court judge at Colchester Magistrates’ Court today, having pleaded guilty to six charges including causing serious injury by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Horsnell has been jailed for a total sentence of three years’ and 10 months. He was also disqualified from driving for seven years.

Horsnell also pleaded guilty to the charges of:

Driving without insurance;

Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence;

Failing to stop after a road accident;

Driving with excess alcohol;

Refusing to provide a sample for a class “A” drug test

He denied the charge of assaulting a police officer, and this was left to lay on file.

At 7.22am on Thursday 11th of December 2025, police were called to reports of a collision on Burrell Road involving a female pedestrian and a silver BMW 318i.

Multiple calls from members of the public indicated the driver failed to stop and had left the scene.

The pedestrian, a woman aged in her 30s, sustained serious head injuries and was taken to Addenbrookes’ Hospital. Her injuries were described as life threatening, having sustained a significant brain injury, as well as a fractured spine and lower leg injuries.

She was identified as a serving police officer with the Metropolitan Police.

Around 9am, officers received reports from members of the public of a damaged vehicle. It was seen parked off Cambridge Drive and was believed to have been involved in a collision. Officers attended the scene and arrested Horsnell, who attempted to evade them.

Horsnell was taken to Martlesham Police Investigation Centre for questioning, where he refused to take a Class A drugs test, but consented to a breath test. He provided two samples of breath and was charged with having 74 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, which is more than twice the legal limit.

Local CCTV and dash cam footage submitted by members of the public showed Horsnell travelling in excess of the speed limit, ignoring red lights and conducting dangerous overtaking and undertaking.

Officers seized his phone after his arrest and they established he had been involved in a video call at the time of the collision.

Speaking after the sentencing, police staff investigator from the serious collision investigation unit Alexander Matthews said: “Horsnell made the conscious decision to drive when over the drink drive limit, in excess of the speed limit and conducting dangerous manoeuvring, all whilst using his mobile phone behind the wheel."

“He has shown a complete disregard for the safety of other road users or members of the public. Most shockingly, after colliding with a pedestrian he failed to stop and made no attempt to offer help or take accountability for his actions."

“He has shown no remorse for the catastrophic injuries he inflicted on the victim, from which she will never recover. Her life, and the lives of her family, friends and colleagues, have been permanently affected."

“I would like to thank all those members of the public who assisted with this investigation, whose help was vital in securing this conviction.”

Detective Chief Inspector Anna Deighton of the Metropolitan Police, who leads the Public Protection unit in Central East London, said as part of her impact statement: “As police officers we are unfortunately used to dealing with death and serious injury and know what we have to do in response. However, all of us have now experienced how different it is when it involves someone that you love and care for. The absence of Tara’s laughter, her positivity, and the kind heart she brought into every aspect of her work and relationships has left a void that cannot be described."

“We wish to thank Tara’s family for their graciousness in allowing us to be present throughout this period. Tara is so loved by her family and her friends because of the person that she is.”