A teenager has admitted causing the death of three people – and leaving three others seriously injured – in a car crash just weeks after passing his test.
Edward Spencer had been due to go on trial over the deaths of the three teenagers who were killed in April 2023 as they travelled home from school.
But the case was instead listed for a plea hearing this morning in which the 19-year-old admitted three counts of causing death by careless driving.
Sixth formers Matilda Seccombe, the 16-year-old daughter of a parish councillor, Harry Purcell, a 17-year-old twin, and Frank Wormald, 16, were being driven in Spencer’s Ford Fiesta when it crashed on the B4035 between Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, and Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire.
A source told the Mail Spencer, a keen rugby player, had only passed his driving test around five weeks before the crash.
Spencer and the three dead were all sixth form students at Chipping Campden School, an Ofsted-rated ‘outstanding’ former grammar which was founded almost 600 years ago.
A woman and two children travelling in a second vehicle, a Fiat, were also hospitalised after the collision at Stretton-on-Fosse, Warwickshire, which saw four air ambulances attend the scene.
The children in the Fiat were aged 10 and 12 at the time.
Harry Purcell, 17, who was ‘so kind in every way’, was in the Ford Fiesta when Edward Spencer crashed last year
Matilda ‘Tilly’ Seccombe was 16 when she died. Her family said they were ‘utterly devastated by the loss of our beautiful girl who made us so happy’Â
Spencer today admitted three counts of causing serious injury by careless driving in relation to those victims during the brief hearing at Warwick Crown Court.
Judge Andrew Lockhart KC adjourned the hearing for a pre-sentence report and released Spencer on conditional bail. But he warned the defendant that he faced a jail sentence when he returns for sentencing next month.
His guilty pleas come amid calls for the government to bring in restrictions for novice drivers covering their first few months behind the wheel – and just three days after a collision on a country road in Shropshire claimed the lives of two teenagers.
An 18-year-old male who was travelling in the silver Audi A1 was pronounced dead at the scene in Tong, near Shifnal, on Friday night. West Mercia Police announced on Sunday that one of two 17-year-old boys who suffered life-threatening injuries in the collision had died in hospital. The other 17-year-old remained in a critical condition while a fourth male who was travelling in the Audi, also 17, was in a stable condition after suffering life-changing injuries.
Bereaved parents of young drivers and their passengers – including Miss Seccombe’s mother, Juliet – are amongst those backing the likes of motoring organisation the AA in calling for so-called ‘graduated’ driving licences.
Drivers in the US, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand are already subject to special rules. Novice drivers in Ireland face a two-year probation period, with ‘N’ plates required throughout, and are subject to lower drink-drive limits than more experienced road users. Every state in America has some form of graduated driver licensing in place.
Forget Me Not Families Uniting – a group of more than 100 people who have lost loved ones to collisions involving young drivers – is campaigning for the government to introduce graduated driving licences, which could include restrictions such as a ban on new drivers carrying younger passengers, a late-night driving curfew for the first six months after passing a driving test, or other measures such as a minimum learning period.
But at a Westminster Hall debate on road safety in January, the government told bereaved families it had no plans to place greater restrictions on young and newly qualified drivers.
Frank Wormald, 16, died in hospital a day after his friends, who were also fatally injured in the crash
Edward Spencer, 19, pleaded guilty to killing three of his friends in a Ford Fiesta crash in April 2023
Roads minister, Lilian Greenwood, acknowledged this was an area of ‘huge public concern’ and said she was committed to engaging as her department develops its policies.
‘Whilst we are not considering graduated licences, we absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic collisions on our roads, and that is why we are exploring options to tackle the root causes of this without unfairly penalising young drivers,’ she said.
In a letter to parents at the time of the fatal collision which claimed the lives of Frank, Harry, Matilda – who was thought to be distantly related to Warwickshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Seccombe, Chipping Campden School Principle John Sanderson said: ‘There are no words that I can find to express the sense of loss that we feel, both as a community and for Harry’s, Tilly’s, and Frank’s families and close friends.’
Paying tribute previously, Harry’s family said in a statement: ‘Our hearts are broken but our love for Harry will live forever.
‘He was so kind in every way and carried with him a contagious smile that everyone around him loved so much.
‘He will live on in everyone’s hearts and memories forever and never be forgotten.’
The family of Matilda, who was known as Tilly, said: ‘We are utterly devastated by the loss of our beautiful girl who made us so happy.
‘Our hearts go out to all who knew her and will share this terrible pain. Thank you Tilly.’
The scene of the crash where Edward Spencer in a Ford Fiesta collided with a Fiat 500 carrying four people
Police notice at the scene of the crash. Three children and an adult were travelling in the other car; they suffered ‘life-changing’ injuries which they still receive treatment for nearly two years later
Inspector Michael Huntley, from Warwickshire Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: ‘Drivers need to be aware of the devastating consequences that can occur if a car is driven carelessly.
‘Edward Spencer had only passed his test five weeks prior to the collision and his careless actions cost the lives of three young people travelling in his car.
‘Driving requires judgment and care, even more so when you lack experience. As this tragic case shows, the consequences of careless driving can be devastating.
‘So many lives have been ruined by this terrible incident. I can’t begin to imagine the pain this has caused, and our thoughts remain with the individuals and families affected.
‘Edward Spencer will live with the consequences of his careless actions for the rest of his life, as will the families of all those involved.’
In a letter to parents, Principal John Sanderson said at the time: ‘There are no words that I can find to express the sense of loss that we feel, both as a community and for Harry’s, Tilly’s, and Frank’s families and close friends.
‘Each one of these young people has been part of our extended school family and each loss is felt profoundly.
‘In time, I would like to try and find the words to pay tribute to each of the young people we have lost, as each was remarkable and unique, having touched the lives of so many in such profound ways.
‘We continue to hope and pray that he will make good progress in recovering from his injuries over the coming weeks and months.
‘Edward and his family are very much in our thoughts.
‘This is a very difficult time for us all but there is strength and hope in knowing we walk it together.’