Hugh Holmes ploughed into man hours after prison release

Hugh Raymond Holmes was jailed in 2022 after crashing a stolen car on a bridge of the A1(M), leaving his passenger with a brain bleed, fractured spine, and a broken neck. He was released from prison just six days before Christmas on December 19 last year; but that same afternoon, the 35-year-old got into a fight on Faraday Street. During the incident, which involved several men and women, Holmes drove his Renault Megane at a [1] man had been fighting with - but he jumped out of the way.

Hugh Holmes (Image: Durham Constabulary) Instead, he ploughed into an innocent resident who came out to try to and help. The victim suffered a traumatic brain injury, multiple facial fractures and a broken leg requiring surgical screws, spending seven months in hospital.

He is still undergoing treatment. Holmes denied being involved, but was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, disqualified driving, driving with no insurance and refusing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. He pleaded guilty to all charges except causing grievous bodily harm and following a two-day trial at Durham Crown Court last week.

He was found guilty in just 20 minutes by the jury and was jailed for 18 years, as well as being banned from driving for 15 years.

Horror A1 crash

Holmes, of Spennymoor, was previously jailed 32 months and banned from driving for a further three years and 41 weeks following the horror A1(M) crash at Bowburn in 2022. The scene of the A1 crash The incident saw Holmes crash a Vauxhall Astra, leaving it "teetering" over the flyover before dropping and landing on its roof in the motorway's central reservation.

And while passing motorists went to their aid, Holmes kicked open the driver's side door and tried to leave the scene, blaming his partner for the driving while she was unconscious. She was later airlifted to hospital suffering a bleed on the brain, multiple fractures of the spine, a broken neck, a smashed right knee and five dislodged teeth.

Holmes 'clearly hadn't learnt any lessons'

Terrifying footage from the incident in Ferryhill last December has now been released by police, showing the moment the car collides with the innocent man. Teesside Crown Court heard how Holmes pulled over and approached James Cowie, who was standing beside his van, after his girlfriend claimed people in Cowie's van had been offensive.

CCTV footage of the incident in Ferryhill (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY) Holmes attempted to land a blow at Cowie who ducked and then knocked Holmes to the ground, before continuing to punch and kick him. Holmes managed to get up and went back to his vehicle and drove away.

Cowie then began punching a male passenger from Holmes' car. The victim tried to stop the fighting but while talking to Cowie, Holmes returned to the scene and drove straight at them. Police bodycam footage also shows the moment he was cuffed by officers in a back street, where one woman can be heard saying: "If [victim] dies, you're dying son."

Holmes being arrested (Image: DURHAM CONSTABULARY) He can later be heard saying: "I wish I was back in jail." Cowie, 28, of Kilburn Street, Shildon, was also arrested at the scene.

He later pleaded guilty to a charge of affray at the court, on January 27, and was handed an eight-month prison sentence DC Lauren Howe, who led the investigation, said: "Holmes is a despicable criminal who clearly hadn't learnt any lessons from his previous crime which he had just been released from prison for. The aftermath of the crash (Image: Stuart Boulton)

"He left the victim with critical injuries just before Christmas and they continue to have a huge impact on him and his family.

"However, thanks to the bravery of the victim and the whole community pulling together, we were able to gather overwhelming evidence to charge Holmes and put him back before the court.

"We hope putting Holmes back behind bars for a significant amount of time will bring some comfort to the victim who, in his own words, continues to 'stand tall'."

References

^ his Renault Megane at a (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)
^ Terrifying video shows moment 'despicable' danger driver ploughs into innocent man (www.thenorthernecho.co.uk)