Drone found driver who crashed into elderly couple’s home

The driver who crashed into an elderly couple’s home causing £20,000 of damage fled the scene carrying a bottle of wine, Lincoln Crown Court was told

 Kevin Martin, aged 47, of Heron Way, Balderton, Newark has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for a year and until he passes a retest, for offences of dangerous driving and failing to provide a breath test.  

Just after midnight on Saturday, July 13, 2024, the owner of a house on Gainsborough Road with the junction of Gallamore Lane in Middle Rasen, was woken from his sleep by a loud bang along with the sound of a car trying to reverse. 

Martin, the driver of a black Chrysler, had driven along Gainsborough Road, from Market Rasen and failed to negotiate the T-junction with the A46 and Gallamore Lane; instead, he drove straight across the junction and into the garden and house opposite. 

Before leaving the scene he pulled a bottle of wine from the boot of the car but did not leave his details or check on the welfare of the people in the house.

Having got dressed the owner walked outside to his garden and could see the car had crashed through his garden fence and into the side of his house. 

From the inside of the house, the brickwork had been pushed inwards and had partially collapsed and twisted; electrical wires were exposed.

Police carried out a search for the driver and Martin was found in a field using a drone, which identified a heat source in the area.  The strong spotlight on the drone showed Martin curled up along a hedge row. 

The house was declared unsafe in the early hours, which meant the couple, in their 70s, had to find somewhere else to stay.  Apart from the cost of just under £20,000, the repairs took five and half months before they could move back into their home.  

Martin was found guilty following a trial for dangerous driving and had pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath test when he appeared at court last year when he was given an interim driving ban.

At a sentencing hearing last Friday he was also ordered to wear an electronic monitor tag for six months; given a Mental Health Treatment Order and Rehabilitation Action Requirement of 25 days.  He must pay costs of £787.