Ex-racing driver Billy Monger - who as a teenager lost both legs in a
horrific crash - collided with three parked cars and demolished a garden wall when losing control of his Toyota while speeding, a court heard today.
The 25 year-old left the scene of the midnight crash with his female passenger, leaving behind a trail of destruction after ending up in a home's front garden.
He pleaded guilty at Guildford Magistrates Court to driving without due care and attention in Snatts Hill, Limpsfield, Surrey at 11.55pm on January 19.
The court heard Monger, of Highworth Farm, Stan Hill, Charlwood, Horley, wanted desperately to keep his licence to aid his own restricted mobility and continue training for the Iron Man triathlon world championships.
A witness estimated the speed of his black Supra to be at 40mph-50mph in the 30mph zone and, describing his own parked vehicle as “shaking” as Monger drove past.
A second witness described hearing a “loud raging engine” as Monger sped down the road, clipping a parked car and then barreling into the front driveway of a house, striking two more vehicles.
Monger was disqualified from driving for 49 days and fined £1,846, with £110 costs and a £748 victim surcharge.
Bench Chair Ann Whelan told Monger, who appeared via videolink: “We note your previous driving record and will not depart from the guidelines.
“From this moment in time you are a disqualified driver and cannot drive. If you do so it is a serious offence you could go to prison for.”
At the time of the crash Monger had six penalty points on his driving license for speeding offences on March 7, 2021 and October 28, last year.
Prosecutor Russel Greenhouse told the court: ”This was a damage-only four vehicle road collision involving a black Toyota Supra driven by this defendant and a silver VW Lupo, a silver VW Golf and a red Citroen.”
The VW Lupo was parked in the road and was the first vehicle struck by Monger and the VW Golf and Citroen were parked in the driveway.
“It is a residential road with a slight gradient and a 30mph limit. Cars are parked on both sides, the weather was fair and the road conditions fine,” continued the prosecutor.
“There were two witnesses to the collision and the first, who was sitting in his car, says the black Supra passed him at high speed and his car shook as it passed at an estimate of 40mph-50mph.
“The vehicle has slightly lost control, scuffed the VW and gone through a bush and hedge and collided with the two cars in the driveway.
“The second witness says they heard a loud raging engine and saw the vehicle losing control, leave the road and come to rest in the garden.”
The witness checked to see if Monger and his female passenger were okay after the crash, which saw both of the Supra’s airbags deployed.
After a short period Monger and his companion left the scene, leaving his damaged vehicle behind.
Monger reported the accident the following morning, but gave no details regarding the circumstances of the crash and confirmed to Surrey Police he was the driver at the time.
The VW Lupo had damage to a rear wheel arch; there was damage to the front bumper of the Golf and rear wing damage and dents to the Citroen.
“The defendant’s vehicle was extensively damaged, with both airbags deployed,” said Mr Greenhouse. “There was damage to the hedge, a wall and damage to a highways sign outside the address.
“There is a fair indication of excessive speed and three other vehicles were damaged and a section of wall, hedge and a sign damaged.
“There was leaving the aftermath of the collision. This was not a low speed loss of control.”
Surrey Police originally charged Monger with failing to stop after the accident, but this was dropped.
His lawyer Duncan Jones told the court: “This is an unusual case, given Mr Monger’s personal background.
“This accident was caused by excessive speed and Mr Monger accepts that he drove without due care and attention and his lapse was driving too fast around the bend.
“He accepts that he was driving too quickly and this accident would not have happened otherwise.”
Insurance has covered all of the damage, the court heard, with Monger visiting the residential property to address the concerns of the vehicle owners.
“Mr Monger wants to make it clear that he does not want to get special treatment, but the impact of a disqualification for a young man with his disability is a relevant consideration for the court,” submitted Mr Jones.
“He has no previous convictions and has shown remorse by his guilty plea and you will see the impact and feelings of guilt this has had on him and he takes full responsibility for it.
“He was a former racing driver and in 2017, just before his eighteenth birthday he was involved in a crash and that accident was very serious and it was very high profile at the time.
“He was a young man with a bright future in motor racing and who knows where that would have gone, but the crash resulted in him spending five days in a coma and sadly both legs amputated.”
Monger was competing in the British F4 Championship at Donington Park on April 17, 2017 when he crashed at high speed in to the rear of another driver.
His inspirational recovery has seen him receive the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Award in 2018 for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.
“That recovery was played out in public and replayed again and again and again and he has become known for his resilience, regarding his life,” added Mr Jones.
The court also heard Monger provides expert analysis for Channel Four’s F1 coverage and he raised £3.2m for Comic Relief in 2021 by completing a walking, cycling and kayaking challenge.
He also intends to compete in the world Iron Man Championships in Hawaii and set a new world record time for a double leg amputee.
“He is a role model to young people, particularly young people with disabilities and sadly this lapse in driving is something he has to take responsibly for.
“The reputational damage for a driving accident is punishment enough and he has got to deal with that. A reputation that was otherwise outstanding.
“The accident has also brought back distressing memories from the racing accident that changed his life, causing anxiety, effected sleep, guilt and uncertainty as to what was going to happen today.
“This is a young man with truly exceptional personal circumstances.
“He uses prosthetics to get around and he is resilient and resourceful, which is when he has achieved what he has in his career.
“I would ask you to take an exceptional course and impose five points or less. Perhaps there is no alternative, but a disqualification would have a serious impact on him.”
