A Midlands motorist has been sentenced to a substantial prison term after deliberately driving his vehicle into a crowd of people at a private event, leaving hundreds in a state of panic and six individuals injured.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
Gurwinder Singh, aged 28, committed the shocking act in the early hours of Saturday, May 31. He drove his white VW Tiguan into pedestrians on De Montfort Street in Leicester, shortly before 12:35am. Following the collision, Singh callously fled the scene, abandoning his injured victims.
Upon their arrival, Leicestershire Police discovered a scene of chaos. A force spokesperson confirmed there were a number of people injured, with some wounds resulting from the car ramming and others reportedly sustained during a fight that erupted just prior to the collision. The car had already left, but the event left hundreds of party-goers terrified.
The Police Investigation and Arrest
An extensive investigation was swiftly launched. Singh's vehicle was located later that day on Margaret Street, close to the scene. Critical evidence was obtained by officers, who recovered footage showing Singh removing the number plates from his VW Tiguan in a desperate attempt to evade capture.
Later on Saturday, May 31, Singh took the decision to hand himself in to police. He was arrested when he presented himself at Keyham Lane police station.
Court Sentencing and Lasting Impact
Singh, of Gwendolen Road, Leicester, subsequently pleaded guilty to three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The case reached its conclusion at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, November 7, where he was handed a prison sentence of seven years and six months.
In addition to his custodial sentence, the judge imposed a 12-year driving ban on Singh. The court heard that of the six victims—four men and one woman—two required extensive hospital treatment.
DC Jamie Anderson, the officer in the case from the force's complex investigation team, stated that three people are still suffering from their injuries today. He described Singh's actions as "one moment of impulsive behaviour in the heat of the moment" but emphasised that the impact on those he struck has been profound.
DC Anderson added that the hundreds of hours of police work, which included reviewing CCTV and taking statements from numerous witnesses, resulted in a strong case. He expressed hope that the substantial sentence would offer some comfort to the victims, even if it cannot erase their injuries.
