VIDEO: Motorist jailed after posting clip of his dangerous driving on Facebook

A motorist who bragged about his dangerous driving and posted a video of it on Facebook has been jailed.
Charlie Jones filmed himself driving in a smoke-filled car and posted it on Facebook. SUS-150728-124216001Charlie Jones filmed himself driving in a smoke-filled car and posted it on Facebook. SUS-150728-124216001
Charlie Jones filmed himself driving in a smoke-filled car and posted it on Facebook. SUS-150728-124216001

Charlie Jones, 21, uploaded a video clip of himself laughing hysterically as he drove his Vauxhall Astra through Peacehaven with the car filled with smoke.

The video had been recorded on August 5, 2014 as Jones drove and his passenger deliberately let off a fire extinguisher inside the vehicle in Heathy Brow.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The clip shows Jones continuing to drive and film the incident on his mobile phone at the same time.

The next day Jones uploaded the video onto Facebook with the title “CLASSIC NEARLY DIED TWICE”.

A member of the public who saw the video reported it to police and officers were able to identify and trace Jones.

Jones, of Collingwood Close, Peacehaven, was found guilty of dangerous driving when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on July 15.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was jailed for 10 weeks, banned from driving for 18 months and ordered to pay £1,000 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

PC Anna Batchelor said: “I hope this deters other motorists from behaving in this manner while driving.

“Jones accepts that he was stupid but did not accept that his driving was dangerous. A jury thought otherwise and found him guilty of the offence.

“What Jones did was reckless and could have had serious consequences. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the incident.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We will act on any information given to us about motoring offences and I would encourage anyone to come forward if they know of people driving dangerously.”

To report people driving antisocially email [email protected], call 101 or visit www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.

If you see someone driving dangerously call 999.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.