Man Jailed After Ferrari Crash Kills 13-Year-Old Boy
A Surrey man has been locked up over a tragic Ferrari crash that claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy. Matthew Cobden, 39, of Long Lodge Drive, was found guilty of causing death by careless driving at Winchester Crown Court.
Joyride in Million-Pound Ferrari Ends in Tragedy
The court heard that on August 22, 2016, Cobden, who owns a car storage facility in Hook Road, North Warnborough, offered young Alexander Worth a spin in the eye-watering £1 million Ferrari F50. The supercar had been taken out earlier that day and was about to be returned to storage.
Neither Cobden nor the teenager wore seatbelts during their brief journey along a public lane near the storage site. Shortly after setting off, Cobden lost control and slammed the car into fencing. Alexander suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cobden Sentenced: Jail Time and Driving Ban
Cobden himself was seriously hurt and hospitalised. He denied any wrongdoing but a jury delivered a majority guilty verdict, 10-2. Today he was sentenced to 18 months behind bars and banned from driving for two years and nine months.
“This is a truly tragic case where a young boy has lost his life. His family have been left devastated,” said Sgt Rik Grant from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit. “I hope this sentence brings some closure. Cobden should have been in total control, especially driving such a powerful car.”
The officer added a stark warning: “If anything can be taken away from this, it’s the importance of wearing a seatbelt—no matter how short or local the journey. It might save lives and stop others facing this nightmare.”
