A jealous and obsessed cocaine user smashed his car into his terrified girlfriend’s vehicle at speed – spinning it round and overturning his own car – after suspecting that she was cheating on him. Reece Coleman tried to drag her out of the car by her foot but she managed to get out and escape.
He drove off in her car and ended up crashing it into the garage and gates of a house, Hull Crown Court heard. Coleman, 32, of Broompark Road, Goole, admitted nine offences, including dangerous driving, taking a vehicle without consent, failing to provide a blood specimen, assault, possessing cocaine and cannabis, having no insurance and two of causing criminal damage on September 8.
Stephen Robinson, prosecuting, said that Coleman was in a relationship with a woman between December 2024 and September 5 this year but it started to deteriorate in June when he developed a drug problem. Her sister told her that Coleman had turned up at an address they shared.
He kicked the door, the court heard. The woman left Swinefleet Club in her white Audi car and pulled over to take a call from her father. She was just about to drive off when she saw Coleman’s Ford Mondeo heading towards her at speed.
His car hit the right side of her vehicle and spun it all the way round. Her head banged onto a window. His car was turned upside down but he got out and approached her car.
“She was screaming in panic as he attempted to open the driver’s door,” said Mr Robinson. Coleman went round to the passenger door, got into the car and tried to grab her by taking hold of her left foot.
“She jumped out of her vehicle through the driver’s door,” said Mr Robinson. “The defendant got in to the car through the open driver’s door and drove away.
“He appeared to be injured. There was some blood on him.” His brother arrived on the scene and helped the woman by taking her to his home.
“She described the incident as being shocking and scaring her a lot,” said Mr Robinson. The police and fire brigade arrived to deal with the overturned Mondeo.
A snapbag of cocaine was found in it as well as a box of herbal cannabis and three cannabis grinders. There was a further crash by Coleman in the woman’s Audi.
A man was upstairs at his home in Swinefleet when he heard a loud bang that sounded like an explosion and then a louder bang. The Audi had crashed into the garage and the house gates had also been damaged, leaving an £800 bill.
The woman’s car was written off. Coleman was arrested and taken to hospital. He later said that he suspected the woman of being unfaithful. He refused to give a blood sample and claimed that he was scared of needles.
During police interview, he made no comment to all questions. He had no previous convictions but he had two cautions for threatening words or behaviour in 2009 and possessing cocaine in March this year.
Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said that it was deeply unpleasant behaviour. “He is genuinely ashamed and understands and acknowledges how terrifying it must have been for the complainant,” said Mr Shipley.
“He says that no one should have to go through something like that. He feels really bad about what’s happened. There is genuine remorse that exists in this case.”
Coleman started using cocaine and cannabis as a coping mechanism after suffering a bad motorcycle accident in June last year that left him bedbound for three months and having to use a wheelchair and crutches. “It was the worst decision that he could have made,” said Mr Shipley.
His relationship with the woman ended and the cocaine that he was taking distorted his view of her and was likely to have increased his aggression. “He has removed cocaine from daily life,” said Mr Shipley.
Recorder Taryn Turner said that the incidents happened because of “jealousy” from Coleman. “You were angry, jealous and under the influence of cocaine,” said Recorder Turner.
Coleman’s driving was “extremely dangerous” when he hit her car, spun it round and overturned his own car. “The incident must have been terrifying for her,” said Recorder Turner.
“Your conduct after that collision significantly compounded her distress, I have no doubt. It was highly dangerous driving committed against a background of jealousy, obsession and substantial cocaine use.”
Coleman was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, with a probation requirement and nine months’ drug rehabilitation. He was given a five-year restraining order, was banned from driving for three years and he must pass an extended retest before he can drive legally again.
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