Men sentenced after car hits DFS store

Two men, one of which was left with life changing injuries, have been sentenced after admitting dangerous driving offences following a road traffic collision in Cannock in May 2019.

The collision, which saw a VW Scirocco leave the road at Longford Island and strike the front of a nearby DFS store, occurred at around 3:45am on 24 May 2019.

A Newton hearing, which took place at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday 10 March 2021, determined that 57-year-old Mark Cole and 27-year-old Jordan Powers had been racing along the A5 before Powers’ car left the road.

Powers, of Victor Street, Pelsall, was left with life-changing injuries alongside his 34-year-old passenger. He pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving at a magistrate’s hearing in September 2020.

Cole, of Banbury Road, Cannock, had initially pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving but changed his plea at a hearing on 5 February 2021. A Newton hearing, which determines the facts of a case, was called after Cole disputed the evidence put forward by the prosecution as to why he had been driving the way he had.

Following an appearance at Stafford Crown Court on Wednesday 29 April 2021, Cole has been sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment and disqualified for two years and five months with a requirement to take an extended re-test. Powers was sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment and disqualified for five years and 10 months with an extended re-test to be taken before he is allowed to drive again.

Judge Gosling said: “Their driving was grossly irresponsible and utterly reckless and that Mr Cole had tried to save his own skin and had egged on Mr Powers by racing with him”.

Sergeant Rich Moors, from the Staffordshire and West Midlands Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “The standard of driving of both Cole and Powers was beyond appalling that morning. The injuries sustained by Powers and his passenger will have long lasting effects for both of them. I would implore drivers to remain within the speed limit and not to race on the roads. Such actions, as demonstrated here, can have life changing consequences for all those involved.”