Basildon: Pair convicted of GBH

Work by our officers has ensured the conviction of two people who ran a man off the road in Basildon.

Detectives from Basildon CID established the victim had been chased in his car by two other vehicles from Westcliff onto the A127 and in Basildon at around 10pm on 22 October 2022.

They also established that the victim had been approached by a group of people, who’d been in a black Toyota Corolla, and blocked the victim in before damaging his vehicle with a baseball bat.

Through examining CCTV, doorbell, and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera footage, officers were able to show how two vehicles had chased the victim’s red Peugeot to Uppermayne.

He called the police while in the vehicle and, when driving down Uppermayne, was rammed by the BMW causing him to strike a tree on the central reservation.

The impact of the collision caused the victim to be ejected from the vehicle onto the road where the Toyota was driven at him before it then drove off.

When officers arrived at the scene the BMW was still there along with it’s driver, who officers identified as Hollie Dance, now 50, who was arrested.

Officers were able to identify that 26 year-old Thomas Summers was driving the Toyota.

He was arrested the following morning.

During interview, Dance claimed she had been involved in a collision with the victim and was following him merely to exchange details, claiming it was actually her vehicle that was rammed.

Summers provided no account.

Dance, of Alton Gardens, Southend, and Summers, also of Alton Gardens, Southend, were charged with various offences.

They both denied the charges against them but at Basildon Crown Court on Wednesday 1 April Dance was found guilty of GBH with intent and possessing a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of any noxious liquid, gas, or other thing.

Summers was convicted of GBH with intent and affray. He was found not guilty of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

They are due to be sentenced on 29 May.

Acting Detective Sergeant Amy Day, from Basildon CID and who led the investigation, said:

“The actions of Hollie Dance and Thomas Summers were reckless and dangerous.

“They put the victim’s safety at risk but also that of other people on the road.

“They showed clear intent to hurt the victim and the reality is that the outcome of this incident could have had even more serious consequences.

“I am pleased that our thorough investigation has been able to hold them responsible.”

Another man 25 year-old Rhys Bentley, of Norwich Avenue, Southend, was found not guilty of GBH with intent, affray, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

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