Crash Brought On 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 car, triggering a pregnant female to provide birth too soon, has been jailed.


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


Police stated the motorist of the Nissan suffered whiplash and the pregnant passenger was rushed into hospital with a fractured pelvis. Two other kids in the very same vehicle suffered injuries while the family's pet canine was seriously hurt and had to go through emergency surgical treatment.


Bentley, 30, admitted two counts of triggering major injury by unsafe driving and was jailed for 28 months at Derby Crown Court and prohibited from driving for 38 months.


After the crash the pregnant woman needed to undergo an emergency situation Caesarean area, leaving her premature infant in intensive look after a number of weeks, when she suffered two collapsed lungs.


The child later on made a healing and had the ability to go home.


Derbyshire Police said Bentley, of Meadow Way, Derby, had been taking a trip home from Blackpool when the crash happened at 18:45 BST.


A driver in the left-hand lane captured the video on her dashcam, which was used as proof.


Bentley, driving in the right-hand lane, did not see the stationary traffic and crashed without modifying his speed, cops said.


He was seen previously drifting into the yard verge of the eastbound carriageway in between junctions 6 and 5, as well as between lanes.


Bentley was arrested at the scene. Analysis of his phone information following the crash showed he had actually been using his phone while driving, checking out online gaming websites, the force stated.


'Missed early moments'


In a victim effect declaration, the mom stated: "I required an emergency Caesarean due to my baby being in distress. I discovered this really distressing and didn't desire my baby to be born like that and that early.


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


"When you have an infant you expect to be in a bubble with your partner and newborn infant however we were separated across 3 wards in the health center and missed out on out on so much in those early minutes.


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


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


Following sentencing on 11 February, PC Richard Morris, from Derbyshire Police, stated: "This was a dreadful display screen of driving by Bentley, who spent the bulk of his journey distracted by being on his phone.


"I understand that the physical, mental and emotional injury from this incident continues to effect on this household, who were merely going out their day when this wholly preventable collision occurred."


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