An arrest warrant has been issued for a Swindon man after he failed to appear for sentencing at Oxford Crown Court in connection with a serious collision on the A420 in 2023.
Bench warrant issued after absence at court
The warrant names Darryl Young, of Zakopane Road, Swindon. The 64-year-old was due to be sentenced on Friday 17 July after being convicted of one count of dangerous driving.
Details of the crash
The offence relates to a head-on collision that occurred on 13 June 2023 on the A420 at Kingston Bagpuize. During the trial the prosecution said the incident happened as the road narrowed from dual carriageway to single carriageway and that an attempted overtake led to the collision.
"It's the prosecution's case that it was a dangerous manoeuvre to overtake."
Jurors were shown dash-cam footage of the aftermath, which included the van involved ending up on its roof and material showing the other car spinning. Witnesses told the court they saw the overtaking manoeuvre and then the crash. The defendant sustained injuries and was taken to hospital; he later attended a voluntary interview with police and said he could not remember the collision.
Court process and next steps
The arrest order was issued by His Honour Judge Hassan Khan after Young failed to attend the sentencing hearing. A bench warrant means police will seek to locate and arrest the defendant so that sentencing can proceed.
- Defendant: Darryl Young, aged 64, Zakopane Road, Swindon
- Charge: Dangerous driving (convicted)
- Incident date: 13 June 2023
- Court: Oxford Crown Court
- Judge: His Honour Judge Hassan Khan
The prosecutor in the trial was Prashant Shah, who opened the prosecution's case on 17 June. The jury found Young guilty of the single count after hearing the evidence.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Collision on A420 | 13 June 2023 |
| Prosecution opened to jury | 17 June (year not stated in openers) |
| Scheduled sentencing / failure to attend | 17 July (year not stated in openers) |
For residents concerned about road safety, the case underlines the risks associated with overtaking where a carriageway narrows. Police will now be responsible for executing the bench warrant and returning the defendant to court for sentencing. InfoRadar will report further if and when an arrest is made or when the court proceeds to impose a sentence.
