Dangerous Driving Sentence
A 32-year-old Ipswich man, Carl Horsnell, has been slammed with nearly four years behind bars for causing horrific injuries to a serving Metropolitan Police officer. Horsnell pleaded guilty to six charges, including causing serious injury by dangerous driving. At Colchester Magistrates’ Court, he was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison.
Multiple Charges Stacking Up
Horsnell’s crime sheet doesn’t stop there. He also admitted to:
- Driving without insurance;
- Driving without a proper licence;
- Failing to stop after the collision;
- Driving under the influence of alcohol;
- Refusing a Class A drug test.
He denied assaulting a police officer, but that charge was left on file.
Deadly Hit-and-Run on Burrell Road
The crash happened at 7.22am on Thursday, 11 December 2025. Horsnell was driving a silver BMW 318i when he struck a female pedestrian in her 30s, who is a serving Met Police officer. Instead of stopping, he fled the scene, sparking multiple calls from witnesses.
The victim suffered life-threatening head injuries, a fractured spine, and leg wounds. She was rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital and remains in critical condition.
Speeding, Phone Use, and No Regret
CCTV and dash cam footage show Horsnell was speeding, running red lights, and performing dangerous overtakes, all while on a video call. Police found his phone used during the crash. Following his arrest, he blew a reading more than twice the legal alcohol limit—74 microgrammes compared to 35 allowed.
He was disqualified from driving for seven years.
Alex Matthews, Police Investigator: “Horsnell made a conscious decision to drive drunk and dangerously, ignoring red lights and safety. Most shockingly, he fled the scene without helping the victim or taking responsibility. His reckless actions have changed a woman’s life forever, devastating her family, friends, and colleagues.”
Detective Chief Inspector Anna Deighton, Met Police: “We deal with tragedy often, but this injury hits us personally. The absence of Tara’s laughter and kind heart leaves a void none can fill. Our thanks go to her family for their strength and grace during this ordeal.”
Ongoing Investigation and Appeal
Police continue to seek witnesses, especially motorists with dashcams who drove near Burrell Road between 7am and 7.30am on 11 December. They urge anyone with info to contact the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Serious Collision Investigation Unit, quoting reference 37/70165/25.
