'Reckless' Jaguar driver jailed for woman's death

A "reckless" driver who killed a young mother-of-one and left a teenager with life-changing injuries in a crash has been jailed.

Thomas Peggs, 32, lost control of his black Jaguar XKR in Gote Lane, Gorefield, near Wisbech, and ploughed into a tree at about 17:00 GMT on 3 February 2023.

The car burst into flames and while passers by pulled him out, Gracie Robinson, 20, died later and Macie Hall, 18, was seriously injured.

Peggs admitted causing death and serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving and was jailed for three years and four months at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday.

Peggs, of Ascot Close, Bourne, in Lincolnshire, had stood trial in April where he was found not guilty of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

He had already pleaded guilty to the charge of careless driving.

Police said Peggs and the two passengers were all taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge after the crash, where Grace, the mother of a young boy, died on 5 February as a result of her injuries.

Macie was seriously hurt and still suffers the effects of her life-changing injuries, the police said, while Peggs sustained serious injuries and made a full recovery.

Det Sgt Craig Wheeler, from the serious collision investigation unit, said: "Yet again we see another case of young lives being ruined by a moment of stupidity behind the wheel of a car.

"No-one, other than Peggs, will know why he decided to drive like he did on that day.

"His actions and reckless behaviour have taken the life of Grace and caused serious, life-changing injuries to Macie."

Peggs had been drinking at the Woodman Cottage Inn, in Gorefield, on the afternoon of the crash and had met Grace at about 16:00.

They left the pub together at about 16:40 to pick up Macie from a beauty appointment in the village, just before the crash.

Det Sgt Wheeler said he hoped Peggs's sentencing would give the women's families "at least some sense of closure".

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