An 18-year-old girl, Chanelle Guest, has been sentenced following a tragic incident that left her friend with permanent brain damage. The victim, then 17, sustained a fractured skull and serious head injuries after falling from the bonnet of a vehicle that Guest was driving in the car park of Brecon High School on 17 May.
CCTV footage showed a Renault Clio with a passenger sitting on the bonnet while Guest was behind the wheel. As she executed a right-hand turn, the victim slipped off, hitting his head on the tarmac. Emergency services arrived to find the young man covered in blood and drifting in and out of consciousness. He was rushed to hospital, where he spent several days in critical care.
The victim’s father delivered a heartfelt personal statement in court describing his son’s injuries and the impact on his life. He detailed how the brain injury affected his son’s short-term memory, mental health, and daily activities. Prior to the accident, the victim was engaged in engineering studies, was an accomplished air rifle shooter, and worked as a lifeguard. Now, he struggles with mood swings, nightmares, and a loss of abilities he once enjoyed.
READ MORE: Gloucester’s Griggs Timber Company to Close After Over a Century, Staff to Lose Jobs Before Christmas
READ MORE: New Video Highlights Impressive Progress on A417 Missing Link Project
Guest, from Lower Penywaun, Llanddew, Brecon, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The court learned she was not insured to drive the vehicle and had no previous convictions. Her defence lawyer highlighted her remorse and caring nature, particularly noting her responsibility for an autistic sibling, while also pointing out the victim’s decision to climb onto the bonnet contributed to the incident.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins described the event as a tragic accident born from reckless youthful behaviour, imposing a 21-month detention sentence at a young offenders institution, suspended for 21 months. Guest was also ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and received a two-year driving ban.
This devastating case serves as a stark reminder of the grave consequences that can arise from dangerous driving and risky behaviour, forever altering lives in moments of thoughtlessness.