Young motorists 'raced on country road'

7:01pm Sunday 25th November 2007

TWO young motorists drove "like maniacs" as they raced each other on a 'dangerous' country road, a court heard.

And Blackburn magistrates were told that the drivers did not know each other and had started racing after Timothy Horrocks "saw red" when a car braked sharply in front of him.

Witnesses described the cars overtaking on double white lines along the A682 from Barrowford to Gisburn and approaching blind bends side by side.

One motorist said he was doing about 55 mph and the cars passed him like he "wasn't moving" and another said it was the worst driving he had ever seen.

Horrocks, who had a previous conviction for dangerous driving, had only got his licence back three weeks before the incident.

Horrocks, 21, of Sandybeds Close, Baxenden, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on September 6. He was committed on bail to Preston Crown Court for sentence after the magistrates decided their powers of punishment were inadequate.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said the incident involved grossly excessive speeds, racing, dangerous driving over a considerable distance and resulted in injury to a passenger when the car driven by Horrocks crashed into a hedge.

"Another feature of this case is that it took place on the A682 which has been described as Britain's most dangerous," said Mr Robinson "On a 15 mile stretch there have been 10 deaths or serious injuries in the past decade."

Mr Robinson said Horrocks had picked up a workmate in Blackburn at 7.30am and they had driven along the motorway in his Renault Clio to Barrowford where they joined the A682.

Horrocks told police a Ford Fiesta had braked sharply in front of him and he had "seen red."

"He said it had made him really angry and both drivers had put their foot down," said Mr Robinson.

"He accepted the overtaking manoeuvres were not the safest and said he was doing at least 70 mph and probably faster."

Rachel Adamson, defending, said Horrocks was a hard-working young man who had no issues with alcohol or drugs.

"There is something in him that has caused him to commit this offence and the previous one," said Miss Adamson.

"He has identified an issue of anger management."

Another motorist, a 19-year-old man from Todmorden, has been charged with dangerous driving in connection with the incident.

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