‘Stupid’ boy-racers nearly killed women

A PAIR of “stupid, childish’ motorists who sped through the streets of Rochdale and almost killed three women have been jailed for dangerous driving.

Lee Unwin (38) of Oriel Close, Chadderton, and Joel Wharmby (24) of Victoria Street, Littleborough, have been jailed for two years and 16 months respectively.

Both have been disqualified from driving for three years.

Unwin, on a Suzuki motorbike, and Wharmby, in a Noble M12 GTO, were travelling at speed along Manchester Road on September 29, 2007.

When they reached the area near Highfield Hospital, Wharmby, driving at 70mph, smashed into the back of a Renault Clio, which was turning right into New Barn Lane.

The impact knocked the Clio several feet into the air, hurling all three back- seat passengers out of the vehicle.

Unwin managed to swerve and avoid the collision and stopped further down the road, but instead of calling an ambulance, he called his father and left the scene without offering any help to the injured people.

Samantha Butterworth (34) suffered severe traumatic brain injuries and will never again lead a normal life.

Her friends Reanne Fraser (24) and Gemma Chauhan (25) suffered ruptured organs and fractured bones and spent up to two months in hospital. Ms Chauhan also contracted MRSA in hospital.

PC Martin Slater, from the Road Policing Unit at Chadderton, said: “Neither men knew the other but they took it upon themselves to race at excessive speed down a busy road.

“Their stupid, childish actions have ruined not just Samantha’s chances of living a normal life, but have greatly affected her family’s happiness too.

“The fact Unwin left the scene of this terrible collision when three innocent women had been thrown from their car is inexcusable.

“It is only by the grace of God that no one was killed.

“Driving like they did proves that Wharmby and Unwin could not have been less bothered about the safety of other road users.”