A teenage girl has been sentenced after a reckless driving incident left her friend with lifelong brain injuries. Chanelle Guest, 18, drove a vehicle with her 17-year-old friend perched on the bonnet, causing him to fall off during a turn and sustain a fractured skull and significant brain trauma.
The incident took place on 17 May in the car park of Brecon High School. CCTV footage showed a Renault Clio moving with the victim sitting dangerously on the bonnet. As Guest maneuvered the vehicle, the boy slipped off and hit his head on the tarmac, suffering severe injuries including multiple brain contusions, bleeding, and a complex skull fracture.
Emergency services arrived promptly, with police finding the victim unconscious and bleeding heavily. He was rushed to the hospital, where he spent days in critical care and was later readmitted due to complications. Although he survived, the young man now suffers from permanent brain damage affecting his memory, behavior, and daily functioning.
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In court, the victim’s father shared a heartfelt statement: his son, once an active and sociable young man studying engineering and working as a lifeguard, is now struggling with the effects of his injury. The father described the emotional trauma of seeing his son “covered in blood and lifeless” and the ongoing challenges he faces, including mood swings, aggression, and nightmares.
Guest admitted to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. While the vehicle did not belong to her and she had no insurance, her defense highlighted her remorse and good character, noting she cares for her autistic brother. The defense also suggested the accident was partly due to the victim’s choice to sit on the bonnet.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins condemned the reckless behavior but acknowledged it as a tragic mistake rather than a criminal act. Guest received a 21-month suspended sentence, must complete 100 hours of unpaid work, and was banned from driving for two years.
This case serves as a sobering reminder of the severe consequences reckless driving can have, especially when combined with risky behaviors that put lives in danger.