A Shrewsbury man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after causing a fatal collision that killed a teenage motorcyclist, having consumed 11 pints of cider during a pub crawl.
A Deadly Night of Drinking
On September 30, 2023, Danny Francis, 29, spent the afternoon and evening drinking with friends in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The court heard how he acted as a designated driver in reverse, using his five-seater Range Rover Sport to transport his group between nine different pubs while heavily intoxicated.
CCTV footage presented in court showed the shocking moment Francis and his friends left the Red Lion pub and crammed into his vehicle. In a blatant display of disregard for safety, one passenger was even forced to climb into the boot of the car. Receipts evidenced his continued drinking, including one showing he spent £40 on shots and a further £21 on a round of drinks.
The Fatal Collision and Its Aftermath
Around midnight, approximately 45 minutes after being filmed leaving the pub, Francis was driving on the A458 Welshpool Road. He lost control of his Range Rover while navigating a large pool of water, veering onto the wrong side of the road.
He collided head-on with two motorcycles. One was ridden by 17-year-old Benjamin Worrall from Pontesbury, and the other by his friend, Nathan Fountain. The two young men were returning from a meal in Newtown with friends.
Tragically, Benjamin was pronounced dead at the scene. Bystanders and an off-duty police officer administered first aid, but his injuries were fatal. Nathan Fountain suffered life-altering injuries which resulted in the amputation of his leg. He was placed in a coma for 11 days following the crash.
Shameful Flight and Court Sentencing
In what the judge later described as "shameful conduct," Francis fled the scene of the collision. He called his girlfriend to pick him up from a nearby field. Police arrested him at his girlfriend's home in Knockin, Shropshire, at 6am the same morning.
Due to the delay in his arrest, a forensic toxicologist was required to calculate his likely alcohol level at the time of the crash. The analysis estimated his breath-alcohol concentration was between 53 and 111 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, significantly over the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
At Shrewsbury Crown Court, Francis admitted to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Judge Trevor Meegan sentenced him to seven years in prison. He was also disqualified from driving for 11 years and eight months and must pass an extended re-test.
The court heard heartbreaking impact statements from Benjamin's family. His mother, Vicky, revealed her son had been saving for an engagement ring for his girlfriend. She described the immense pain of spending what should have been his 18th birthday "lighting candles in his memory." Nathan Fountain also detailed the devastating impact on his life, explaining how his active lifestyle has been destroyed, leaving him unable to work.
Detective Constable Richard Owen of West Mercia Police condemned Francis's "selfish" actions, which "resulted in a teenager losing his life, and a man suffering life changing injuries."
