Man jailed for dangerous driving following serious collision on Gawsworth

A Macclesfield man who admitted causing a serious collision which resulted in a 50-year-old man sustaining life changing injuries has been jailed.

Lewis Chalcroft appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday 14 June where he was sentenced to 14 months in prison.

The 21-year-old, of London Terrace, Macclesfield, had earlier pleaded guilty to causing serious injuries by dangerous driving.

On the morning of Wednesday 21 October 2020, Chalcroft was driving his black Honda Civic on the A536, Congleton Road in Gawsworth

At around 6.10am he overtook a silver van and narrowly avoided a head on collision with an oncoming vehicle. 

Despite the warning, Chalcroft continued to drive dangerously and, at 6.14am, he overtook a large goods vehicle. As he did so he collided head on with a blue Mazda 5 which was travelling in the opposite direction. 

The driver of the Mazda was trapped in his vehicle for over an hour as a result of the incident and had to be released by firefighters.

He sustained life changing a number of life changing injuries, including fractures to both legs, feet and ribs.

The 50-year-old man from Macclesfield, spent four weeks in hospital, had multiple operations. He is still recovering from his injuries eight months after the incident.

Despite extensive damage to his vehicle, Chalcroft managed to climb the Honda and escaped with only minor injuries. 

Following his sentencing Anton Sullivan, from the force’s Roads & Crime Unit, said: “Driving is a privilege, not a right, and it comes with great responsibility to act within the rules laid down when you pass your test.

“In this case, Chalcroft’s clearly breached these rules and his driving totally unacceptable.

“His actions that day resulted in the victim has been left with life changing injuries and Chalcroft is now paying the price behind bars.

“I hope that the sentence handed to Chalcroft will provide some closure to the victim and his family.

“I also hope it acts as a warning to others, the rules of the road are there for a reason and they apply to everyone. They are not just there to protect you but also to protect other motorists.”

In addition to his prison sentence Chalcroft was also disqualified from driving for two years and seven months and ordered to take an extended retest.

Pictured - Lewis Chalcroft of London Terrace, Macclesfield.