Driver who mowed down Gogglebox star's boyfriend avoids jail
Speeding driver who mowed down Gogglebox star Ellie Warner’s boyfriend to leave him fighting for his life avoids jail
- Nat Eddleston was left fighting for his life after being hit in Leeds, West Yorkshire
A speeding driver who left the boyfriend of Gogglebox star Ellie Warner fighting for his life was spared jail.
Nat Eddleston was mowed down the by the driver in a Seat Ibiza outside a pub in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in March last year.
He suffered a broken neck and back and needed life support after being launched onto the bonnet and into the air by the car, leaving him with serious injuries to his brain and both of his lungs.
Driver Declan Anderson, 21, was banned from driving after admitting causing serious injury through dangerous driving and handed a handed a two-year suspended sentence.
He was speeding at more than 40mph on a 30mph road when he ploughed into Mr Eddleston, who was walking home from the Woodman pub after a night with pals.
Nat Eddleston, boyfriend of Gogglebox star Ellie Warner, fighting for his life after being launched onto the bonnet and into the air by the car, leaving him with serious injuries
Nat Eddleston was mowed down the by the driver in a Seat Ibiza outside a pub in Leeds, West Yorkshire, in March last year
Gogglebox star Ellie Warner has kicked off a campaign to help those suffering brain injuries as she urges donations
Witnesses said the car swerved on to the wrong side of the road before hitting Mr Eddleston shortly after midnight on March 18, 2022.
Leeds Crown Court heard that he was struck with such force that the windscreen of the white Seat was shattered and its roof collapsed.
CT scans in hospital revealed fractures to Mr Eddleston’s neck, damage to his brain nerve fibres and bruising to both lungs.
He spent 11 days in intensive care before being fitted with a surgical halo brace.
The court heard that he is still recovering from the accident and has undergone speech therapy.
Despite major improvements, he still continues to suffer health problems.
Anderson, of Bramley, West Yorks, stopped at the scene and admitted driving the car during a voluntary police interview. His girlfriend was in the passenger seat.
Lisa Judge, defending, said Anderson had swerved trying to avoid others in the road.
Gogglebox star Ellie Warner, 33, spearheaded a campaign to help those suffering brain injuries
Leeds Crown Court heard that Mr Eddleston was struck with such force that the windscreen of the white Seat was shattered and its roof collapsed
Witnesses said the car swerved on to the wrong side of the road before hitting Mr Eddleston shortly after midnight on March 18, 2022
She said her client had shown remorse, despite him being later fined for speeding in separate incident.
Anderson was handed a two-year jail term, which was suspended for two years.
He was told to undertake 20 days of probation rehabilitation and banned from driving for three years.
Passing sentence, Judge Ray Singh said: ‘You have shown genuine remorse for the victim in this case.
‘It points to a mistake of a young man having made a terrible momentary misjudgement by driving dangerously. I find it baffling that you then speed once again.
‘That is not going to be tolerated in the future. The injuries you caused were life threatening and the harm is continuing.’
After the horror crash, Ellie, 33, took time away from the hit Channel 4 show.
READ MORE: Gogglebox star Ellie Warner kicks off a campaign to help those suffering brain injuries as she urges donations… after her partner Nat was left fighting for his life after being hit by a car
She later spearheaded a campaign to help those suffering brain injuries.
In a Facebook post urging friends and family to contribute to the brain injury charity Headway on her birthday, she said: ‘I’ve chosen this charity because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope that you’ll consider contributing as a way of celebrating with me. Every little bit will help me reach my goal.
‘Headway’s mission is to promote the understanding of all aspects of brain injury and to provide vital information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their families and carers. Facebook takes care of the donation processing with no fees.’
Ellie, who appears on the Channel 4 show alongside sister Izzi, has appeared on the award-winning production since 2015.
The popular sisters have been fan favourites with Channel 4 viewers since they first appeared on Gogglebox, winning viewers over with their close bond and witty remarks.
Many of their early Gogglebox scenes were filmed at their Yorkshire family home, where eldest sister Ellie still lived at the time.
After announcing she was pregnant during an episode of the show late last year, the Leeds-based hairdresser introduced the couple’s baby son Ezra on the reality TV series in June.
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