A teenage driver who caused the deaths of three friends and left two children with life-changing injuries has been sentenced to two years’ detention.
Edward Spencer, now 19, was just 17 years old when he crashed his Ford Fiesta while driving home from school in Stretton-on-Fosse in April 2023. The collision on the B4035 tragically claimed the lives of Matilda Seccombe, 16, Harry Purcell, 17, and Frank Wormald, 16 — all sixth-form students at Chipping Campden School.
Two young children aged 10 and 12, travelling in another car with their stepmother, were also left with devastating injuries.
‘Habitual Poor Driving’ Led to ‘Inevitable Catastrophe’
During sentencing at Warwick Crown Court today, Judge Andrew Lockhart KC condemned Spencer’s driving history, noting a “disturbing pattern” of dangerous behaviour behind the wheel, including footage of reckless driving just weeks before the fatal crash.
The judge described the crash as a “terrible inevitability,” citing Spencer’s “habitual” poor driving even after warnings from friends and parents. Evidence revealed Matilda had expressed concern about his driving only hours before her death.
Spencer had only passed his driving test five weeks before the crash. He pleaded guilty in March to three counts of causing death by careless driving and three counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.
He will serve two years in a youth detention centre and has been disqualified from driving for eight years, with an extended re-test required.
Families Devastated by Loss
Grieving parents have spoken out following the sentencing. Tilly’s mother, Juliet Seccombe, described the heartbreak of arriving at the crash scene to find an air ambulance and police everywhere.
“It’s devastating. Absolutely devastating… birthdays, anniversaries, everything is lost when you lose a child,” she said.
The school community remains “profoundly shocked,” with Chipping Campden School principal John Sanderson calling the loss of the three students “inexpressible.”
Calls for Graduated Driving Licenses
The families of the victims are now joining calls for the UK to adopt a Graduated Driving Licence (GDL) system, a model used in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the USA, to restrict new drivers and potentially prevent future tragedies.
Young drivers aged 17-24 account for nearly a quarter (24%) of all fatal or serious collisions, according to RoadPeace charity statistics.
Despite strong campaigning, the UK government dropped plans for a GDL scheme in 2020. Campaigners now hope that tragic cases like this will reignite serious reform discussions.
Police Statement
Detective Sergeant Stephen Barr, who led the investigation, said:
“Edward Spencer made catastrophic decisions that day, causing pain and heartbreak that many will live with forever. We hope today’s conviction sends a strong message about the devastating consequences of dangerous driving.”
