A driver from the Midlands who deliberately drove his car into a crowd outside a wedding celebration has seen his prison sentence significantly increased following an appeal by the Solicitor General.
Court of Appeal Rules Original Sentence 'Plainly Insufficient'
Govinder Singh, a 28-year-old resident of Gwendolen Road in Evington, Leicester, has had his jail term extended by two-and-a-half years after the Court of Appeal deemed his original punishment inadequate. Singh had initially been sentenced to seven-and-a-half years imprisonment on November 7, 2025, after pleading guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm and wounding with intent.
Violent Incident Outside Leicester Wedding Venue
The violent episode occurred shortly after midnight on May 31 last year outside the Regent Sport and Social Club on De Montfort Street in Leicester. Singh had been called to the wedding venue by his brother, who had been ejected from the premises after arriving uninvited and intoxicated.
When a physical altercation broke out among guests outside the club, Singh deliberately accelerated his Volkswagen Tiguan into the crowd, striking multiple individuals. He then exited his vehicle and proceeded to physically assault some of the victims before fleeing the scene.
Severe Injuries and Life-Altering Consequences
The court heard harrowing details about the injuries sustained by five victims. One woman suffered what were described as 'life-altering' injuries, while four men sustained significant harm. Medical evidence presented during sentencing revealed one victim sustained fractures to the spine, another experienced a brain hemorrhage, and a third suffered a deep five-centimeter wound to the back of his head.
Psychological impacts were also substantial, with one victim reporting ongoing anxiety, pain, and trauma directly resulting from the incident. Remarkably, one of those injured was Singh's own cousin, adding a disturbing familial dimension to the violence.
Attempted Cover-Up and Legal Proceedings
Following the attack, Singh drove away from the scene and parked his vehicle near his residence, where he removed and concealed the license plates in an attempt to evade detection. However, police located the Volkswagen Tiguan a short time later through investigative work.
During legal proceedings, Singh initially attempted to mislead authorities by claiming he had given his car to someone else and was uncertain who had been driving it at the time of the incident.
Solicitor General's Intervention Leads to Sentence Review
The case was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC MP, who argued that the original punishment failed to adequately reflect the severity of Singh's actions.
Following a hearing on March 6, 2026, before Lord Justice Dingemans, Mr Justice Butcher, and Judge Peter Blair KC, the court agreed with the Solicitor General's assessment. The judges determined that the initial sentence was "plainly insufficient" to account for "all the criminality" involved in the case.
Official Statements on the Increased Sentence
Solicitor General Ellie Reeves stated: "Govinder Singh got behind that driving wheel intending to cause maximum damage. Through his sheer recklessness, he hurt several people, including his cousin, and has left one person with life-altering injuries. I welcome the court's decision to increase his sentence following my referral, recognizing the unnecessary and wild actions Govinder Singh took that tragic night."
In addition to the extended prison term, Singh received a twelve-year driving ban as part of his original sentencing in November 2025. This prohibition will remain in effect following his eventual release from custody.
The case highlights the legal system's capacity to review and adjust sentences when initial judgments are deemed insufficient to address the gravity of violent crimes, particularly those involving deliberate use of vehicles as weapons against vulnerable crowds.
