Drunk driver abandoned child in town after crash

A drunk driver abandoned a child in a town centre after he crashed into a bush following a disagreement with his former partner.

Kieran Bennion, 32, had been drinking heavily in the early hours of 16 August when the argument started at an address in Smallwood, Cheshire.

After smashing his ex-partner’s phone, he left in a red Vauxhall Corsa and took a 12-year-old child with him, Cheshire Police said.

He drove dangerously towards Crewe, narrowly avoiding a number of vehicles, before crashing into a bush on Clay Lane, Haslington.

The child tried to get out of the car but Bennion told them to get back into the vehicle, police said.

He then drove to Asda in Crewe town centre where he dumped the child at about 04:30 BST and drove off. The child managed to get in touch with a friend, who came to collect them.

Following his arrest, Bennion, of McNeill Avenue, Crewe, admitted three counts of assault, child neglect, driving without a licence, drink driving and assaulting a police officer.

He was sentenced to 15 months in prison during a hearing at Chester Crown Court on Monday.

Insp Matt Chapman of Cheshire Police described Bennion’s behaviour as “unacceptable” and welcomed the sentence.

“Not only did he put the child’s life at risk, but he also posed a risk to the lives of other members of the public who were out in east Cheshire that night,” he added.

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