A 24-year-old beautician, Mia Pritchard, who collided her Mercedes A-Class into a VW Polo at a set of traffic lights and then fled the scene, has avoided a jail sentence. The incident occurred after a night out with friends, where Pritchard failed to stop and drove off as the driver of the Polo tried to compose herself. The wrecked Mercedes was later found abandoned and damaged by Cheshire Police about three miles away, deemed undriveable with severe front-end damage and a smashed alloy wheel.
Pritchard, located due to the memorized number plate of the Mercedes by the Polo driver, was spared jail time. She was instead sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work after claiming that the crash triggered traumatic memories from a previous serious road accident in 2017. The court emphasized the seriousness of the matter, stating that Pritchard was fortunate not to receive a custodial sentence. The Mercedes had its front registration plate removed and half of the rear plate broken off in an apparent attempt to conceal its identity after the crash.
Pritchard, denying claims of drinking before the incident or intentionally removing the plates, faced potential jail time for failing to stop and report the accident but ultimately avoided prison. In addition to the unpaid work, she was ordered to complete 10 rehabilitation activity days, including a driving course. Pritchard was banned from driving for 18 months and required to pay costs and a surcharge. She admitted to panicking after hitting the Polo and making a regrettable decision to drive off on November 8 last year. This incident occurred shortly after Pritchard had been fined for assaulting a police officer.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the Polo driver was stationary at traffic lights when rear-ended by the Mercedes. Efforts were made to hide the car’s identity by removing both front and rear number plates. The court heard that Pritchard fled the scene out of anxiety and did not report the crash to authorities. Pritchard’s defense lawyer highlighted her client’s anxiety diagnosis stemming from a previous serious collision and emphasized her role as the primary caregiver for her younger brother with learning difficulties.