Crash Caused By Phone Gambler Led To Premature Birth

26 February 2026
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George TorrEast Midlands


A guy who was betting on his phone when he crashed into a cars and truck, causing a pregnant woman to prematurely, has actually been imprisoned.


Jack Bentley hit a stationary Nissan X-Trail queuing in traffic on the A50 in Hatton, Derbyshire, on 6 April.


Police said the driver of the Nissan suffered whiplash and the pregnant guest was rushed into hospital with a fractured hips. Two other children in the very same car suffered injuries while the family's family pet dog was seriously hurt and had to undergo emergency situation surgical treatment.


Bentley, 30, confessed 2 counts of causing major injury by harmful driving and was imprisoned for 28 months at Derby Crown Court and prohibited from driving for 38 months.


After the crash the pregnant lady needed to go through an emergency situation Caesarean section, leaving her early child in extensive take care of a number of weeks, when she suffered 2 collapsed lungs.


The infant later made a recovery and had the ability to go home.


Derbyshire Police stated Bentley, of Meadow Way, Derby, had actually been travelling home from Blackpool when the accident happened at 18:45 BST.


A motorist in the left-hand lane recorded the video footage on her dashcam, which was used as evidence.


Bentley, driving in the right-hand lane, did not see the fixed traffic and crashed without altering his speed, authorities said.


He was seen earlier diverting into the turf verge of the eastbound carriageway in between junctions 6 and 5, in addition to swerving in between lanes.


Bentley was apprehended at the scene. Analysis of his phone information following the crash revealed he had been using his phone while driving, visiting online betting websites, the force said.


'Missed early minutes'


In a victim effect statement, the mother said: "I required an emergency Caesarean due to my infant remaining in distress. I found this really terrible and didn't desire my infant to be born like that which early.


"My baby was born without skin-to-skin contact and me and my partner needed to wait to see her.


"When you have a child you anticipate to be in a bubble with your partner and newborn however we were separated throughout three wards in the healthcare facility and lost out on so much in those early minutes.


"No mother or dad must have to go through this.


"The next 3 weeks we spent in health center getting our child strong enough to come home."


Following sentencing on 11 February, PC Richard Morris, from Derbyshire Police, stated: "This was an appalling display of driving by Bentley, who spent most of his journey sidetracked by being on his phone.


"I understand that the physical, psychological and emotional trauma from this incident continues to influence on this family, who were simply going out their day when this entirely preventable accident happened."


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