Hollie Dance and Thomas Summers Jailed for Ramming Driver After Essex Chase
A mother and son have been imprisoned following a revenge attack that culminated in a driver being rammed into a tree in Essex.
Hollie Dance, 50, and Thomas Summers, 26, pursued their victim for 13 miles from Westcliff-on-Sea to Basildon on 10 October 2022. The incident occurred weeks after Dance buried her son, Archie Battersbee, whose death gained international attention in 2022.
Basildon Crown Court sentenced Dance to four years in prison, while Summers received a five-year sentence. Jurors convicted the pair, both of Alton Gardens, Southend-on-Sea, of causing grievous bodily harm with intent in April.
The pursuit began after Dance's daughter falsely accused the victim of attacking her. Dance, in her BMW, tailed the victim along the A127, with Summers following in a rented Toyota. Prosecutor Richard Scott described the victim's police call as "increasingly frantic" as he fled. Dance's vehicle eventually rammed his red Peugeot into a tree in Uppermayne, ejecting him. Summers then drove into the victim, sending him into a bush. Mr Scott stated the motivation was "revenge."
The victim, a chef, sustained fractures to his shoulder and foot, refuting claims of bottling Dance's daughter as "rumours."
Dance, who has prior convictions dating back to 1996, was also convicted of possessing an incapacitant spray found at the scene, having previously admitted to dangerous driving. Her barrister, Bibi Ihuomah, highlighted an expert's view that Dance's life had been profoundly damaged by Archie's death. Summers was also found guilty of affray and had pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Recorder Peter Clark acknowledged the "desperately sad" circumstances surrounding Archie's death and that Dance's daughter had been assaulted. However, he concluded: "Two wrongs do not make a right, they never do. This was a determined, persistent, highly dangerous pursuit." Both defendants were banned from driving for two years post-release.
