Cressing crash in which driver killed friend sees man jailed

On September 25, 2021, Kane Gornall’s blue Ford Fiesta left Witham Road in Cressing and hit a tree shortly after midnight. 

Gornall, 27, had been driving with two friends after a night out when the collision occurred.

Front passenger Jake Blease, 25, was killed as a result of the crash, being pronounced dead at the scene.

Gornall admitted to death by dangerous driving at Chelmsford Crown Court on April 4.

In a tribute, Jake’s family said he “loved life and lived it to the fullest, he had a cheeky smile and a laugh no-one could ever forget."

Victim - Jake Blease was killed in the Witham Road collision

Prosecution barrister Meyrick Williams told the court how Gornall was at the Cherry Tree Pub before the incident and consumed four pints of beer.

He also took cocaine during the course of the evening, however there was no evidence to suggest either “grossly impaired” his ability to drive.

During the speedy drive, Gornall attempted "limiter bashing", pushing the car past its rev limiter and creating a loud bang sound.

The car travelled about one-and-a-half miles at an average speed of 97mph on the 50mph road, with Gornall “ignoring the danger to passengers and road warnings”, before losing control while travelling around a sharp bend and crashing into a tree.

After the crash, passers-by stopped and tried to help, and emergency services came to the scene.

Gornall, of Flemming Way, Witham, remained at the scene, calling for help and attempting CPR, before being arrested by Roads Policing Unit officers.

When the car was examined, Blease was found not to have been wearing his seatbelt after complaining about difficulty securing it shorlty before the crash.

It was noted Gornall knew this and asked him to put it on, but continued his speeding regardless. 

Rhys Rosser, mitigating, told the court how Gornall’s driving record was unblemished before the incident and how he was of good character with genuine remorse.

Judge Christopher Morgan said: “You deliberately drove in ignorance and with a flagrant disregard of the rules of the road.

“I have little doubt had you not crashed at that stage, you would’ve crashed at a later stage and carried on limiter bashing.

“No sentence I impose is capable of making good the loss or changing the grief that is felt by Jake’s family and friends.”

Gornall was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court today, April 20, and was jailed for four years and eight months and given a driving ban of six years and four months.