Stoned Penrith Farmer Crushed Oncoming Car With Tractor

A Penrith farmer has somehow avoided a stint behind bars for driving a tractor over an oncoming vehicle when he was high on amphetamine.

Tyler Sowerby, 19, of Tallows Whins, Lazonby, near Penrith, admitted charges of driving without due care and attention and driving whilst over the specified limit for drugs (amphetamine) when he appeared at Carlisle Magistrates' Court on Monday, 5th June 2023.

Driving whilst over the specified limit for drugs is an offence under section 5A of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or an unlimited fine.

Sowerby had previously admitted a second offence, committed on a different occasion, of driving whilst over the specified limit for drugs (cocaine).

Magistrates heard that Sowerby was driving a tractor and loaded trailer on the A1101 adjacent to RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, shortly after noon on Saturday, 24th September 2022.

CCTV footage from the base, which quite frankly has to be seen to be believed, shows the tractor wandering several times into the opposite lane of the single carriageway road, before finally veering sharply to the right and running over the top of an oncoming Honda.

The roof of the Honda crumpled as the wheels of the tractor passed over. The tractor then toppled onto its side and Sowerby ran free of the wreckage. Miraculously the driver of the wrecked car, William Davis, escaped without injury.

Graeme Tindall, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was driving in the opposite direction, in a tractor which was towing a trailer which was loaded with grain.

"He was swerving along the road.

"Mr Davis thinks he (Sowerby) will get back on to his own side but he doesn't. He drives his tractor on top of the car, and the tractor turns over.

"When I show you the photographs you will be amazed there are no serious injuries."

Sowerby was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through drugs. Subsequent analysis of his blood confirmed he was over the specified limit for amphetamine.

Duncan Campbell, mitigating, said: "Thank goodness nobody was injured. I think this young man was taken to hospital, that was precautionary.

"The Honda driver was uninjured. It was not as serious as it could have been."

Mr Campbell added that his client, who has "faced difficulties most people don't have to deal with", was no longer using drugs.

Magistrates were of the opinion that Sowerby's offences, when considered in the round, were so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate. However, for reasons that have (yet again) gone unreported, they decided to suspend the period of custody.

He was sentenced to 8 weeks' custody suspended for 12 months, with the requirement that he completes 60 hours' unpaid work and up to 10 days' rehabilitation activity.

Sowerby was also disqualified from driving for a period of 3 years.