Man caused fatal crash in chase over fake drugs

A man has been jailed for 18 years for killing three men in a car chase after they cheated him in a drug deal and sold him popcorn instead of cannabis.

Robbie Cook, 39, and from Croxden Way, Eastbourne, East Sussex, had admitted three charges of causing death by dangerous driving and a single charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, and was jailed at Lewes Crown Court on Friday.

Daniel Davies, 21, Jonny Day, 32, and Jon ‘Tommy’ Miller, 36, who had driven from Wokingham, Berkshire, died at the scene in Decoy Drive, Eastbourne, on 13 February 2023.

Their Citroen Berlingo, driven by Mr Day, hit a tree while being chased by Cook's borrowed Range Rover, after the £3,500 of cannabis he thought he had bought from them turned out to be popcorn.

Cook fled the scene after searching their car by torchlight.

A court heard Cook told police that despite noticing signs of life in the car he failed to dial 999.

Emergency services were called more than half an hour later after he arranged for a friend to make up a story for police.

Cook married his fiancee on Valentine's Day the next morning.

Judge Christine Laing KC told Cook: "You were determined to recover either your money or drugs at all costs.

"Your car headlights were illuminating the scene. You would have been well able to see the state all three men were in.

"It's your own account you heard them moaning and groaning.

"When emergency services arrived more than an hour later, Mr Davies would only just have died."

Mr Day's fiancee Kerri Farrell said she was devastated by his loss.

"He was the other half of me, I will never be the same again, I have no idea who I am any more. My heart will forever be broken."

Mr Miller's family said: "We will never know the meaning of true joy again."

In a letter to the court, Cook said he wanted to express his deepest remorse.

"I made choices that resulted in complete and utter devastation," he wrote.

Cook has also been banned from driving for 14 years.

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