• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
15 May, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Court

Crash driver caught out by airbag DNA evidence

by Jo Wadsworth
Friday 27 Mar, 2015 at 12:56PM
A A
0

A driver who crashed his car and then claimed it had been stolen was caught after police proved his DNA was on the vehicle’s airbag.

Ciaran Fitzgerald smashed his Dacia Sandero into a Seat Exeo and a Toyota Avensis that were parked in Norton Road, Hove, at about 4am on 24 August last year.

The Dacia was so badly damaged that it could not be driven away so Fitzgerald abandoned it and fled. Later that day the 27-year-old, of Ruskin Road, Hove, called police to report his car stolen.

When Fitzgerald was invited to an interview about the reported theft, officers asked him for a DNA sample and revealed that a crime scene investigator had collected DNA from the Dacia’s driver’s airbag, which had gone off when the crash happened.

Fitzgerald then admitted he had lied and accepted a police caution for perverting the course of justice.

He was also charged with driving without due care and attention, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident.

He pleaded guilty to all the charges when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 12 March.

Fitzgerald was given eight points on his licence, fined £183 and ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

PC Dan Patterson said: “Fitzgerald thought he could get away with crashing his car by claiming his vehicle had been stolen but good work by our CSIs meant we could prove he was behind the wheel when the impact happened.

“Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious offence in itself. If you are involved in a crash, stay put and call us so that we can investigate.”

If you see someone leave the scene of an accident call 999 if you are near a phone or report the details of the vehicle later online by visiting www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

FoI request reveals financial offer by new owner of i360

Man with shotgun arrested by armed police in Brighton today

Constance Marten brings cross-examination to an end

Councillor says binmen keep missing out residents who need help

Albion plans new Amex car park on grass bank

Teenager sobs as judge bails him in religious abuse case

Girl, 17, taken to hospital after motorbike crash closes coast road

Man bites cop and goes to jail for spitting and attacking officers

Crash driver caught out by airbag DNA evidence

Jury acquits man charged with rape in Brighton

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Music Venue Properties announce community share offering to purchase The Pipeline in Brighton

Music Venue Properties announce community share offering to purchase The Pipeline in Brighton

15 May 2025
Field Of Anise

Field Of Anise – A Powerful Story

14 May 2025
Live Nation makes record investment in emerging talent through The Great Escape Festival 2025

Live Nation makes record investment in emerging talent through The Great Escape Festival 2025

13 May 2025
Pure euphoria & sensory immersion at Max Cooper Brighton concert

Pure euphoria & sensory immersion at Max Cooper Brighton concert

12 May 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Sussex struggle to make it to day three against Nottinghamshire

Robinson helps Sussex to victory over Worcestershire at Hove

by Bruce Talbot - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
12 May 2025
0

Sussex 284 (90.3 overs) and 256 (79.4 overs) Worcestershire 180 (70.4 overs) and 313 (106.2 overs) Sussex win by 47...

Sussex struggle to make it to day three against Nottinghamshire

Sussex face final day at Hove with Worcestershire chasing tough target

by Bruce Talbot - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
11 May 2025
0

Sussex 284 (90.3 overs) and 256 (79.4 overs) Worcestershire 180 (70.4 overs) and 117-3 (40 overs) Sussex go into the...

Sussex struggle to make it to day three against Nottinghamshire

Sussex end day two in control against Worcestershire at Hove

by Frank le Duc
10 May 2025
0

Sussex 284 (90.3 overs) and 66-3 (26 overs) Worcestershire 180 (70.4 overs) Fynn Hudson-Prentice picked up a career-best five for...

Manager of Brighton and Hove Albion’s women team dismissed after allegations

Brighton and Hove Albion slay Wolves to keep European dream alive

by Frank le Duc
10 May 2025
0

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 2 Brighton and Hove Albion kept themselves in the race for European qualification...

Load More
March 2015
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Feb   Apr »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Investigation under way into scrap yard fire in Newhaven 14 May 2025
  • Man jailed for stalking chief constable 14 May 2025
  • Police seize BMW linked to tool thefts 13 May 2025
  • Shoreham air crash pilot grounded for good 13 May 2025
  • Councillors back £800m plan to build 2,200 homes 13 May 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News