Night Out Turns Nasty: Man Jailed for Driving Car Like a Weapon
Shaquille Mathurin’s night out at Unit 7 took a dark turn in the early hours of Sunday, 3 October. After leaving the venue, a heated argument broke out between his group and another. Things quickly escalated.
CCTV footage shows Mathurin fleeing the scene before a blue Peugeot 208 screeches into view. The car was then driven at speed towards a crowd, flipping one man upside down.
The vehicle circled the car park, then targeted two men again, hitting one with a serious leg injury. The victim, a man in his 20s, was left badly hurt.
Mathurin, 25, from Magnolia Close, East London, fled on foot but was found hiding in bushes nearby by Police Driver McCoy. He was arrested within minutes.
Charged with GBH with intent, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and cannabis possession, Mathurin had no choice but to plead guilty. On Monday 28 March, Basildon Crown Court sentenced him to five years behind bars.
Targeted Attack with a Vehicle
Detective Sergeant Gavin Tuck of Basildon CID led the investigation. He said:
“Mathurin clearly targeted his victim and was intent on using this car as a weapon after a disagreement broke out between his group and another group. “Thankfully, the victim is recovering from his injuries, but this incident could have been so much worse for the victim – and indeed for Mathurin. “After inflicting serious injuries on his victim, he thought he could hide – but he didn’t get very far having been found hiding in a bush. “Today, he must realise the severity of his actions and he will spend a substantial amount of time behind bars. “In Essex, we do not tolerate serious violence and I hope this sentence serves as a deterrent for anyone intent on coming into the county to commit crime.”
