The mother of Archie Battersbee, the 12-year-old boy whose death in 2022 prompted a lengthy High Court battle, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of forcing a motorist off the road and into a tree.
The Incident
Hollie Dance, 50, pursued the victim for several miles before running him off the road in October 2022, just two months after her son Archie’s life support had been withdrawn. Her son, Thomas Summers, 26, then rammed into the victim’s vehicle, sending him into a bush. The incident took place between Southend and Basildon in Essex.
The victim sustained a fractured and dislocated shoulder as well as a fracture to his foot.
Background to the Pursuit
Prosecutor Richard Scott told Basildon Crown Court that Dance and Summers had believed the victim had been involved in a bottling incident in which another member of their family had been hurt. However, recorder Peter Clark noted in his sentencing remarks that whilst Dance’s daughter had indeed been injured in that incident, the pair had sought revenge against a person who had been wrongly identified as the perpetrator.
Convictions and Sentences
Both defendants had been found guilty at an earlier trial of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Dance pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was additionally found guilty of possessing a prohibited weapon, namely a gas canister. She was sentenced to four years in prison and disqualified from driving for 43 months. The court also heard that she had previous convictions, including for actual bodily harm in 1996 and drink driving in 2017.
Summers pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was found guilty of affray. He received a five-year custodial sentence and a four-year driving ban.
Sentencing Remarks
Recorder Peter Clark told the defendants that the loss of Archie was “desperately sad”, but that their behaviour had been “completely unlawful.”
Bibi Ihuomah, representing Dance, said her life had been “profoundly damaged” by her son’s death, and that she had been assessed regarding her mental health the night before the offences took place. Emily Lauchlan, representing Summers, described the pursuit as an “impromptu pursuit without forward thinking or planning.”
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535, or click here to send a confidential message.
