Bogus blue lights driver sentenced after crash

A man who used bogus blue lights to overtake other cars has been sentenced for causing another car to hit a telegraph pole leaving its driver, in her 80s, with a collapsed lung.

Joshua Pembrocke was driving his Peugeot at speeds of up to 50mph (80km/h)in Great Shelford near Cambridge on 7 April when he crashed into the woman's BMW as she was turning right.

Pembrocke, 24, of Chaston Road in the village, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Huntingdon Law Courts.

Pembrocke had an LED bar with forward-facing blue lights fitted to the windscreen of his Peugeot 208 - giving the impression he was from the emergency services, Cambridgeshire Police said.

Several other motorists had moved out of his way on Cambridge Road before he hit the BMW at about 17:30 BST, forcing it off the road.

The woman's injuries also included a fractured sternum.

Police said that in an interview with officers, Pembrocke first said he crashed after being distracted by a fly in his car, but later said he was running late for a car show.

He claimed the blue lights were not activated at the time of the crash and he only turned them on at car shows, but witnesses contradicted this and dashcam footage backed them.

During sentencing last week, he was also fined £240, ordered to complete a 40-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and was disqualified from driving for four years after which he must take an extended retest.

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