Dramatic CCTV shows car smash into prime minister’s Chequers estate – as drink driver Matthew Wootten is jailed
Dramatic CCTV images have shown the moment a drunk driver crashed into the gates of the prime minister’s official country estate.
Matthew Wootten has been jailed after Reading Crown Court heard he was nearly three times over the alcohol limit when his vehicle hit the entrance to Chequers in Buckinghamshire in June.
The 44-year-old was driving a white Volkswagen Scirocco and made no attempt to slow down as he deliberately steered towards Victory Gate, the hearing was told.
The car smashed through the gates and hit bollards. Pic: CPS
He smashed through the 80-year-old oak gates on 25 June – shortly before the general election when Rishi Sunak was PM.
Wootten also hit bollards behind the gate and seriously injured himself, the court heard. The damage totalled more than £38,000.
Matthew Wootten was jailed at Reading Crown Court. Pic: Thames Valley Police
Senior crown prosecutor Celia Mardon said: “CCTV footage showed that Wootten intentionally drove at speed towards the gates of the Chequers estate.
“Not only did Wootten cause significant damage to the Victory Gate, but he could also have put the lives of others at risk with his reckless driving.”
Rishi Sunak was prime minister at the time of the crash at the PM’s Chequers estate. Pic: PA
At the time, Thames Valley Police said the driver – who was the only person in the car – had “suffered serious injuries”.
Several cans of alcohol were discovered in Wootten’s car, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
After his arrest, he registered a blood alcohol reading of 221 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.
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Wootten, from Great Kimble, Buckinghamshire, pleaded guilty to charges including dangerous driving, drink driving and damaging property being reckless as to whether life is endangered.
He was sentenced on Wednesday to two years and eight months in jail and disqualified from driving for 40 months.
Chequers has been the official country residence of British prime ministers since 1921 and boasts an indoor swimming pool and hundreds of acres of gardens.
A man who died after being hit by a bus in Edinburgh has been named.
Michael Leneghen, 74, died after being struck at around 7.25pm on Saturday 2 November in the Cowgate area of the city.
On the day of the incident, police issued a warning for members of the public not to share distressing images and videos circulating online.
In a statement, Mr Leneghen’s family thanked members of the public and emergency services who were involved and asked for privacy.
A single-decker bus collided with Mr Leneghen, who was on foot, Police Scotland say.
Sergeant Paul Ewing of Edinburgh‘s road policing unit said the force’s thoughts were with Mr Leneghen’s family and friends “as well as everyone affected by this tragic incident”.
“Our enquiries remain ongoing. We have already spoken to a number of people who were in the area at the time and work is ongoing to check public and private CCTV footage,” he added.
“We are still keen to hear from anyone who has not yet spoken to police.”
Chief Inspector Trisha Clark, the local area commander, previously said police were “aware of videos and images circulating on social media which are causing distress to the deceased’s family”.
“We would ask members of the public not to share them out of respect for his family, and to report them to the relevant social media platform to prevent further circulation,” she added.
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Ms Clark added that while there had been a lot of speculation, it was an “isolated incident” and there was “no risk to the wider public”.
Officers have asked anyone with information which could help the police investigation to get in touch.
MP Mike Amesbury has been charged with common assault following an incident in Frodsham, Cheshire, last month.
The charge comes after a video emerged of him appearing to punch a man to the ground.
Cheshire Police said the 55-year-old will appear at a magistrates court at a later date to face the assault charge.
In a statement, police said the charge “relates to reports of an assault on a 45-year-old man on Main Street, Frodsham, which was reported to police at 2.48am on Saturday 26 October”.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, said: “Following a review of the evidence provided by Cheshire Police, we have authorised a charge of common assault against Mike Amesbury MP, 55.
“The charge follows an alleged assault in Frodsham, Cheshire, on Saturday, 26 October 2024.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendant are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”
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In a statement, Mr Amesbury said: “I have today been summonsed to court to face a charge of common assault following an incident in Frodsham last month, which was deeply regrettable.
“I am continuing to cooperate with police and given this is an ongoing case I cannot comment further.”
Labour suspended Mr Amesbury from the party so he is now an independent MP for Runcorn and Helsby.
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