AFTER fleeing the scene of an 80mph crash in which 33-year-old Paul Winters died, Arnie Rogers told police it was just ‘careless mischief’.

Swindon Crown Court heard today how the Vauxhall Astra being driven by 23-year-old Rogers, of Kitchener Street, 'obliterated' the red Nissan being driven by Paul’s father Peter at 6.20am on Sunday, May 25, on Thamesdown Drive.

While 33-year-old Paul was thrown from the vehicle and Peter was trapped, seriously injured, Rogers and his passenger panicked and ran.

He was arrested less than three hours later having been found asleep on a friend’s sofa.

Paul’s family and friends gasped as the court was told the first words Rogers said to police was: “That’s £9,000 down the drain then.”

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told the court Rogers had been out drinking all night before taking to the road, egged on by a friend.

“Peter Winters and his son set off early to go to a car boot sale in Blunsdon,” she said. “As he was turning into the Orbital Retail Park off Thamesdown Drive, the lights being green in his favour, he was hit by the defendant who was travelling along Thamesdown Drive at speed and drove through a red traffic light.

“Paul was the passenger in that car and was thrown from the vehicle and later died in hospital of the injuries sustained.

“Peter received serious life-changing injuries and was in a coma for the next five days.

“When he woke he was told of the death of his son. Peter remembers nothing of the accident and was in intensive care for two and a half weeks.

“He suffered serious internal injuries with fractured ribs and a broken collar bone.”

The court heard Rogers had left Kasbah at 3am that morning.

Before the collision he had been driving at speed for around seven minutes along Cricklade Road and Thamesdown Drive.

Witnesses described Rogers tailgating, overtaking at speed, weaving in and out of traffic and racing on the wrong side of the road.

“One road user describes the car as carrying out chicane movements in and out of the traffic, and the driver as irresponsible, dangerous, and stupid,” said Miss Squire.

“Another driver was in the outside lane on Thamesdown Drive when the Astra passed him on the inside and he felt the car rock.

“He said the car was travelling at an appropriate speed for a motorway.

“The car went out of sight around a bend, and when he got around he saw the red Nissan and was clear it has sustained considerable damage and was facing the wrong way on the carriageway.

“He saw the Astra stop and someone run from the vehicle.

“A taxi driver who has just picked up a fare from Asda was coming out of the Orbital Retail Park junction, turned left, and after about 40 or 50 yards saw in his rear view mirror a red car being totally obliterated.

“The Astra came to a stop and he saw two men get out and immediately leave the scene.

“Police were on the scene within minutes. At 9am they went to an address in Swindon and found the defendant sleeping on the sofa. He had minor injuries, some of his clothes were bloodied, and he smelt of alcohol.

“Once he got to the police station he asked how his car was looking. When told it was a wreck he said, ‘Well that’s £9,000 down the drain.’ “He described his driving as ‘careless mischief’.

He said his friend was encouraging him to drive fast and he was showing off.

“There is a lack of remorse shown at the scene or any responsibility for his actions.”

The collision report showed the speed of the Astra at the time of impact was between 76 and 87mph and the Nissan was driving at 12mph. Neither driver braked before impact.

Peter Winters , slightly recovered from his injuries, stared unwaveringly at Rogers as his own victim impact statement was read.

“At my age I may never recover fully,” he said.

“The most devastating impact is the loss of my son, Paul, and not a minute goes by when I do not think of him. It is not possible to put into words how devastating this has been for my family.”

Rob Ross, defending Rogers, said he was regarded as a hard worker and normal lad.

“An utterly unnecessary tragedy is the only way to describe what happened that morning,” he said.

“Nothing I can say on his behalf can detract one iota from the guilt or remorse I see or ameliorate the feelings of the victim’s family.

“He is aware of how they must feel about him. It is apparent to me that he feels genuinely aghast at what he caused.

“He accepts he drove like an idiot. Whatever comes out of this will show other young men that motor vehicles are dangerous.”

Rogers has previous convictions from September 2010 for drink driving, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident for which he was banned for driving for 19 months.

Judge Peter Blair QC, sentencing, jailed Rogers for six years and eight months and banned him from driving for 10 years.

“Whatever sentence I pass will be regarded as utterly unsubstantial by those who lost Paul Winters that day,” he said.

“He was a son, father, fiancee and brother. Your recklessness gave Paul Winters a death sentence and his father Peter terrible injuries.

“Your driving in the moments before the collision was frighteningly dangerous. You offered no attempt to help your victims or stay at the scene to warn other drivers.

“I cannot fail to mention the despicable comments you made when you didn’t even ask about the welfare of your victims.”