Dramatic moment idiot drink-driver smashes into Prime Minister’s country pad causing £40k damage
Reckless driver deliberately sped through main gate of 16th century mansion
THIS is the dramatic moment an idiot drunk-driver smashed into the Prime Minister’s country home – causing £40,000 worth of damage.
Matthew Wootten deliberately sped towards the main gate of 16th century mansion Chequers near Ellesborough, Buckinghamshire.
Footage shows his Volkswagen Scirocco bursting through the 80-year-old iron railings – causing them to fly through the air.
Wootten then smashes into bollards as smoke billows from his crumpled bonnet – causing almost £40,000 worth of damage.
The white ’90s car was left mangled at the property, which is given to the Prime Minister as their official country residence.
Wootten was arrested with several cans of alcohol discovered inside the wreckage.
When tested, he was found to be almost three times the drink-drive limit.
The driver has now been jailed for 32 months after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, damaging property being reckless as to whether life is endangered and drink-driving.
He was also banned from driving for 40 months at Reading Crown Court.
Wootten, who was seriously injured in the horror, was rushed to hospital.
The Prime Minister at the time, Rishi Sunak, was not at Chequers when the crash happened.
PMs have stayed in Grade I-listed Chequers since 1921 when the estate was gifted to the nation by Sir Arthur Lee.
Police said at the time there was “currently no evidence to suggest there was any intention to harm anyone”.
Celia Mardon, a Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Thames and Chiltern, said: “CCTV footage showed that Wootten intentionally drove at speed towards the gates of the Chequers estate.
“The strength of this evidence, along with a significantly high alcohol blood reading, gave him little choice but to admit his guilt to the charges we authorised against him.
“Not only did Wootten cause significant damage to the Victory Gate, but he could also have put the lives of others at risk with his reckless driving.”
