A former soldier turned prison officer has been sentenced to more than two years behind bars after a horrific crash on a major trunk road, caused by him gambling on his mobile phone while driving, left a newborn baby fighting for life in intensive care. Jack Bentley, 30, of Meadow Way, Derby, was sentenced at Derby Crown Court on 11 February 2026 after admitting two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The court heard how, on 6 April 2025, Bentley was driving his Ford Focus eastbound on the A50 road in Derbyshire between junctions 6 and 5, near Hatton. He was travelling from Blackpool to Derby, a 120-mile journey, and for almost the entirety of the two hours he was accessing online gambling and gaming sites on his phone. Dashcam footage showed his vehicle veering onto the grass verge, swerving between lanes, and lane hogging before it ploughed into the back of stationary traffic at approximately 71 mph.
The impact propelled a Nissan X-Trail, which was part of the queue, into the vehicle in front. A pregnant passenger in the Nissan suffered a fractured pelvis and was rushed to hospital, where she underwent an emergency caesarean section under general anesthetic. Her baby was born prematurely at 33 weeks, weighing around four pounds, and suffered two collapsed lungs, requiring several weeks of intensive care.
In a victim impact statement, the mother described the experience as “very traumatic,” stating she did not want her baby born so early or in that manner. She recounted the distress of being separated from her newborn and partner across different hospital wards, missing early bonding moments, and the terror of watching her infant struggle in an incubator. “No mother or father should have to go through this,” she said.
The Nissan’s driver sustained whiplash, and two children in the vehicle were also injured, one suffering a fractured ankle. The family’s pet dog required emergency spinal surgery as a result of the collision.
Bentley, a prison officer and former soldier who served in Kenya before leaving the Army due to hearing damage from artillery fire, had no prior convictions. His defence counsel told the court he deeply regrets the incident.
Sentencing him to two years and four months in prison, the court also disqualified Bentley from driving for three years and two months. He will be required to pass an extended driving test to regain his licence.
PC Richard Morris of Derbyshire Police, the investigating officer, described Bentley’s driving as “an appalling display” and “wholly avoidable.” He stated that had Bentley been paying attention, he would have seen the traffic queue and been able to stop, adding that causing a premature birth and leaving a baby in intensive care was “nothing short of despicable.”
The case highlights the severe consequences of distracted driving. In the UK, using a mobile phone while driving can lead to fines, points, disqualification, or, as here, imprisonment. It coincides with ongoing efforts to reform gambling laws, including proposals for a mandatory levy on betting firms for addiction treatment and stake limits for online slots, aimed at protecting vulnerable users.
Research indicates that pregnant women face an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes, particularly in the second trimester, due to factors like fatigue and physiological changes, though driving is generally considered safe with precautions. This incident underscores the catastrophic ripple effects that a single moment of inattention can have on multiple lives.
