BMW driver rammed cars on M3 to improve their driving

Gavin Bathurst-Shaw Binning described his actions as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity after he drove down the M3 during a drug and alcohol-fuelled mission that saw him collide with nine vehicles, causing one to spin around to face oncoming traffic. 

Winchester Crown Court heard that having drunk alcohol and taken cocaine and cannabis, the 46-year-old got in his BMW, despite efforts by his friends to stop him, and entered the M3 from the M25. 

He then drove southbound, cutting up vehicles, tailgating and even purposefully ramming others during a half-hour spree that saw him drive around 30 miles. 

READ MORE: Surrey man in court over nightmare M3 crash near Winchester

The high-speed rampage only stopped when he collided with another vehicle near Winchester, causing it to spin around in the road. 

But Bathurst-Shaw-Binning then got in another driver's car and told her to drive on, adding: "We need to go and see Charlie."

He then got out of the vehicle and was arrested whilst hiding in the undergrowth at the side of the motorway.

When interviewed he told police he had gone out to get cigarettes. 

Tailbacks caused by the crash on the M3 (Image: ROMANSE)

Prosecutor Jane Terry told the court: "He indicated he was targeting drivers whose standards of driving did not meet his expectations.

"It is a once-in-a-lifetime moment unless you want me to be a paramedic or a traffic cop.

"I want to open up everyone’s eyes to keeping the outside lane clear. That is how I drive in a computer game.

"He said he was surprised he hadn’t done it years ago."

Damage was caused to several vehicles during the incident with two of those being written off. 

Lee Toswill, whose vehicle was involved in the crash at Winchester, had been driving home from his job as a pub landlord. 

In a statement read out in court, he said he was taken to Southampton General Hospital with severe whiplash and suspected spinal injuries. 

Lee Tosswill at Southampton General Hospital after the crash on the M3 (Image: Lee Tosswill)

He described Bathurst-Shaw-Binning as a "lunatic" adding: "I cannot believe he didn't kill anyone.

"This incident has changed my life. I used to be a bubbly and outgoing person running my own pub.

"I will never drive again. I cannot sleep. I feel traumatised not only by the collision but also by being taken into resuscitation.

"That was the scariest moment of my life."

The motorway was closed for an hour following the incident.

Bathurst-Shaw-Binning, of Barons Way, Egham, Surrey, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and four counts of damaging property being reckless as to whether life was endangered. 

He was sentenced to six years imprisonment with an extended licence period of three years. 

He was also disqualified from driving for 10 years with a further 40 months added on to take into account the time he will serve in custody. 

Mitigating, Islam Khan said his client has "sincere remorse" and "now upon reflection sees the consequences of his actions". 

He added that he used to work for a multi-national defence agency in Middlesex but has since lost that job. 

"He says sincerely I am sorry as to what I have done. I don’t know what happened to me that day and I don’t know why I was so stupid."

But the judge, the Recorder of Winchester Angela Morris said that on June 16, 2023, Bathurst-Shaw-Binning he "took the view drivers on smart motorways, which that part of the M3 was, were incompetent and had no idea how to drive correctly.

"That put you in a rage and as a result, you took it upon yourself to teach them a lesson.

"This lesson took the form of driving in the most erratic fashion at speeds which were, on your admission, in excess of 120-130mph.

"You rammed vehicles. You side swiped other vehicles, weaved at high speed between all three lanes, and deliberately collided with other moving vehicles, some of which were shunted towards or into the crash barrier and generally caused pandemonium on a busy motorway in rush hour.

"It is a wonder and a mercy no one was killed."

Lee Tosswill. (Image: Lee Tosswill)

Lee Tosswill has since handed in his notice at the pub as he feels unable to work due to the trauma of the incident. 

He told the Daily Echo, the Chronicle's sister paper: "It is never going to erase the trauma I have gone through now. My life has been completely changed."