Champagne-fuelled van driver jailed after dangerous A65 joyride
Man sips Bollinger and calls mates behind the wheel
Mason James Cowgill, 27, from Gargrave, has been locked up for eight months after a reckless spree driving his work van while necking Bollinger Champagne and chatting on his phone. Cowgill pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was slapped with a 32-month driving ban, including an extended retest.
Crash on A65 near Ingleton
On 7 June last year, Cowgill took a wild ride on the A65 near Ingleton. For miles, he guzzled champagne and continuously dialled mates — often with no hands on the wheel. His van slammed into a car stuck in traffic near the A65 and B6255 junction.
Thankfully, nobody was hurt, but the car was damaged. After swapping details, Cowgill sped off before police arrived, still on calls, nearly causing another smash.
Van owner’s footage seals Cowgill’s fate
Cowgill’s boss, the van owner, reviewed the in-cab footage after the crash report and promptly fired him. The evidence was handed to police, sealing Cowgill’s doom.
“Cowgill is lucky he did not kill or seriously injure someone that day,” said PC Babs Parsons. “His driving was a clear danger to others. I’m amazed he didn’t cause more crashes.”
“This wasn’t a slip-up — it was a sustained period of reckless behaviour with little to no attention to the road. I thank the van owner for bringing us the footage, allowing us to take a dangerous driver off the roads.”
