Two drivers jailed after one ploughed into cyclist as he flew 140 feet

2022-10-09

Two drivers who sped at 100mph using a road ‘like a racetrack’ are jailed after one of them ploughed into a cyclist catapulting him 140 feet in front of his terrified wife and children

Jacob Reginald Titt, 23, crashed into cyclist Thomas Watt sending him flying
Titt and Thomas Lycett, 21, has been driving in a ‘competitive nature’ at the time
Mr Watt was left with a broken neck and collapsed lung as a result of the crash
Titt and Lycett pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving
Titt has been jailed for 18 months and Lycett has been jailed for 14 months

Two motorists who sped at 100mph and used a road ‘like a racetrack’ have been jailed after one of them ploughed into a cyclist, catapulting him 140 feet in front of his young children and causing him horrific injuries.

Jacob Reginald Titt, 23, and Thomas Lycett, 21, were driving in a ‘competitive nature’ on 40mph Salisbury Road, Hampshire, before Titt’s car smashed into Thomas Watt, who was out on a family bike ride, leaving him with a broken neck and collapsed lung.

Titt was driving his Skoda Fabia vRS so fast that when he hurtled into Mr Watt the cyclist was sent flying and landed 140 feet away as his terrified wife and two young daughters watched in horror.

He was rushed to nearby Southampton General Hospital, Hampshire, where he was treated for life changing injuries, including two fractured vertebrae in his neck, fractures to his ankle, ribs and shoulder and a collapsed lung.

Jacob Reginald Titt, 23, (pictured) was driving his Skoda Fabia vRS so fast that when he hurtled into Thomas Watt, the cyclist was sent flying and landed 140 feet away as his terrified wife and two young daughters watched in horror

Titt and Thomas Lycett, 21, (pictured) were driving in a ‘competitive nature’ on a 40mph road before Titt’s car smashed into Mr Watt, who was out on a family bike ride, leaving him with a broken neck and collapsed lung

CCTV captured the vehicles ‘flashing by’ as they travelled at high speeds with one witness saying they had been going ‘much quicker’ than she had ever seen a car on that road.

Titt and Lycett both pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Southampton Crown Court.

Titt, of Ringwood, Hampshire, was jailed for 18 months and disqualified from driving for three years and nine months.

Lycett, of Totton, Hampshire, was jailed for 14 months and disqualified from driving for three years and seven months.

The court heard that on October 11 2020, Mr Watt had been cycling with his wife and two daughters on Salisbury Road, in Totton, near Southampton.

Prosecutor Tim Naik told the court Titt’s car ‘ploughed’ into the self employed gardener’s bike while the pair were driving in a ‘competitive nature’ and had been ‘showing off’.

Mr Naik read out a statement on behalf of Mr Watt, 45, who said: ‘It was a miracle that I was the only one injured. I was in so much pain.

‘The physical effects have been really hard for me to cope with. I have to deal with the pain like I never felt before.

The court heard that on October 11 2020, Mr Watt had been cycling with his wife and two daughters on Salisbury Road (pictured), in Totton, near Southampton

‘Simple things are now not so simple. I’m back to work but not to the same point I was before the collision.’

Detective Constable Mark Furse, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: ‘Titt and Lycett were driving so fast they are lucky to have not killed someone. It was a matter of pure luck that neither of the children were struck by either car as well.

‘Mr Watt will now have to live with the injuries they caused by their reckless and selfish actions.

‘This case highlights the dangers posed to young, inexperienced drivers who decide to use the roads like a racetrack and drive way beyond their capabilities. The rules of the road are there for a reason and apply to all drivers.’

Lycett’s white BMW M1351L could reach speeds of 155mph and do 0-60mph in under five seconds, while Titt’s silver Fabia vRS 1.9 had a top speed of 128mph.

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