Two unqualified drivers swapped seats during a police chase on the A13 before they crashed into a tree, a court has heard.

On June 21, 2018, a blue MG crashed into a tree along High Road in Basildon in the early hours of the morning. All four occupants were taken to hospital with one man dislocating his shoulder and suffering a broken rib.

The two drivers of the car, Chelsie Garbould and John Paul Tarbox, were involved in an altercation in Main Road, Southminster at around 12.40am that day.

They left the area with two others when police were called to the scene.

Officers followed the car, which Tarbox was driving, and signalled them to stop.

But when they carried on driving, a police chase ensued.

Police at the scene
Police at the scene

They managed to lose the pursuing officers and stopped the car, before driving off again when they saw a police helicopter above them.

While driving on the A13 towards Basildon, Garbould took over the driving after climbing onto Tarbox's lap as he crawled across to the passenger's seat.

They were only brought to a stop when they crashed into a tree on High Road in Laindon at around 1.30am.

Garbould and Tarbox were sentenced for their crimes at Basildon Crown Court today (Friday, October 11).

Garbould claimed police car hit into her

All four had to be cut out of the car by fire crews at the scene and were transferred to hospital.

The court heard how in the moments after the crash, Garbould claimed that she had collided with the tree because a police car hit the rear of the MG.

A subsequent investigation which was carried out found no evidence that this had happened.

Blood samples taken after the crash proved that Garbould was above the legal limit of cannabis when she was driving.

Her barrister, addressing Judge Samantha Leigh this morning, explained how she herself was seriously injured as a result and was in and out of consciousness so can't fully remember the course of events.

Garbould was later charged with causing serious injury, driving without a licence or insurance and driving over the limit of a controlled drug.

Tarbox was arrested and charged with dangerous driving and driving without insurance or a full licence.

The road was closed for most of the day
The road was closed for most of the day

The sentence

Judge Samantha Leigh handed Tarbox a nine-month sentence, suspended for 18 months for dangerous driving as well as giving him a four month curfew for 7pm to 6am, 60 days in rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work.

Garbould, meanwhile, was sentenced to 20 months for causing serious injury, again suspended for two years, as well as two months for drug driving to run concurrently.

She was also ordered to undertake 60 days of rehabilitation and has a six-month 7pm to 6am curfew. She was not given any unpaid work as she is not able to complete it due to ongoing problems caused by the injuries.

Both Garbould and Tarbox are disqualified from driving for three years and will have to take a test before they are allowed to drive again.