Brandon Williams 'drove like an idiot' in his Audi A3 and caused the high-speed smash in Cheshire
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Brandon Williams leaving Chester Magistrates Court where his sentencing hearing was held
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Former Manchester United footballer Brandon Williams was 'beset by depression' and 'showing off' when he drove at speeds of almost 100mph 'with a balloon in his mouth' before crashing his Audi A3, a court has heard.
Ex-Reds defender Williams, 24, today avoided jail after crashing into the back of a Ford Fiesta on the A34 near Wilmslow in the summer of 2023.
Three of the occupants of Fiesta, which was written off, were injured with one saying she 'felt she was going to be killed.'
Chester Crown Court heard Williams had been given 'too much too soon' and was experiencing 'significant mental health issues' at the time.
However Williams, who is without a club after leaving United last year, is now said to be 'in better shape mentally and physically' and is back in training in the hope of securing a contract with a club this summer.
Williams joined United at the age of seven, but left when his contract expired last summer
(Image: Getty Images)
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A witness who was driving on the A34 shortly before 6pm on the evening of Sunday, August 20, 2023, said Williams' Audi began 'closing in' behind her, 'braking heavily, then dropping back.'
The car then pulled alongside her, and the witness said that both Williams and a female passenger 'had yellow balloons in their mouths', the court was told.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) previously said the woman was also filming the pair at one point.
However Max Saffman, prosecuting, told the court that the crown did not contend Williams was 'impaired' by nitrous oxide or any other substance.
The court heard he had suffered with 'significant mental health issues'(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
Richard Littler KC, representing Williams, said: "Whilst he has previously used nitrous oxide as a recreational drug, as a much younger man, he was not using it at the time of the driving.
"He was in the vehicle with nitrous oxide, and was assisting the front seat passenger to so use it."
The witness said Williams again dropped behind her whilst driving 'at high speed', the court was told. She said he got so close to the back of her car she was unable to read his registration plate in her mirror.
He then 'swerved into the outside lane', overtook her and moved in front of her in what she said was a 'needless manoeuvre, having no logic to it.'
Williams' last appearance was whilst on loan at Ipswich in December 2023
(Image: Joe Toth/REX/Shutterstock)
He got close to the back of a Ford Fiesta in front before colliding with the rear driver's side of the car, Mr Saffman said. Williams 'lost control' and hit the central reservation.
The Fiesta driver cried out 'oh s***' on impact with her car being 'caused to turn and face the central reservation' with the wheel also coming off. The car, valued at £9,000, was written off.
The female driver and a male passenger suffered whiplash whilst another woman who in the car was left with 'seatbelt injuries and bruising.'
Williams was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries and then taken to Middlewich police station to be interviewed.
Williams is 'deeply ashamed' and 'genuinely remorseful' the court was told
(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)
He gave a prepared statement in which he blamed the driver of the Fiesta for the crash.
Police investigators calculated that four seconds before the crash he was travelling at 99mph, Mr Saffman said. At the point of impact he was travelling at 74mph in the 70mph zone.
In total, his 'erratic' driving covered a distance of around five miles, the court was told.
Willams was charged with dangerous driving and driving without insurance.
He initially denied the offences but entered guilty pleas at a hearing in March.
Williams - now without a club - is training in a bid to secure a contract this summer
(Image: Manchester United via Getty Images)
He today (Friday) appeared before a judge for sentence at Chester Crown Court, sitting in the Chester Magistrates Court building.
The hearing heard he had told a probation officer that he was 'showing off' and 'driving like an idiot'
Williams was 'deeply and genuinely remorseful', Mr Littler said. "He wishes to apologise to the court through me to anyone he's harmed physically and emotionally through his actions," he said.
"He accepts there is simply no excuse for what he did, and he does not challenge it."
Mr Littler said the Covid pandemic had a big impact on his career.
Williams reached speeds of 99mph on the A34 near Wilmslow
(Image: Cheshire East Council)
"The demands of being a professional footballer were huge upon him and his family," he said, adding Williams' relationships with loved ones became 'strained.'
He 'began to move in different social circles' and 'isolated himself' which 'affected his mental health.'
Mr Littler said: "It's clear that in the last few years Mr Williams has had to live with significant mental health issues and neurological issues." He had received 'treatment, monitoring, help and care" from a medic and the court case had also 'weighed heavily' on him, he said.
However, Mr Littler said, Williams is now 'back in training' and is working with a coach in order to to try and earn a contract with a club this summer.
"He's in better shape mentally and physically," he said.
"He's trying his level best to get his career on track and improve his mental wellbeing."
The judge, Recorder Eric Lamb, told Williams: "There was no reason for driving in the way you did."
He said he had 'shown a deliberate disregard for the safety of other road users.'
"The driving was prolonged and it was a deliberate course of driving," he added.
He said Williams had got 'too much too soon', was 'beset by depression' and had 'isolated himself.'
"It's in that period of depression that you committed these offences," the judge said.
The offence was so serious that the 'least sentence' he could impose was, he said, 14 months in prison. However, he said Williams' 'strong personal mitigation' meant he was able to suspend the sentence, for a period of two years.
Williams was ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and was also banned from driving for three years and must take an extended re-test in order to get his licence back.
Following his guilty plea, Andrew Madden, a Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “Brandon Williams’ driving on that day clearly fell far below what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.
“Expert analysis showed that he was driving at 99mph four seconds before he hit the Ford Fiesta.
"Witnesses said Williams kept speeding up and then braking sharply. It was clear he wasn’t in control of the vehicle. The driving was erratic and the speed was grossly excessive. Eventually, Williams lost control completely and crashed.
“It is fortunate no one was seriously injured or killed. To drive at 99mph in those circumstances was extremely dangerous and placed the lives of other road users at serious risk of harm.
“The Crown Prosecution Service wishes to thank the witnesses for supporting this prosecution."
Williams, from Harpurhey, joined United at the age of seven and came through the club's academy. He made his debut in a League Cup game against Rochdale in September 2019, before making his first Premier League appearance against Liverpool the following month.
He went on to make more than 51 appearances for the Reds and had a season-long loan spell at Norwich in 2021/22.
He last featured for United in a Carabao Cup match against Burnley in December 2022.
He spent part of the 2023/24 season on loan at Ipswich where he made his last appearance in December 2023. He was sent back to his parent club in early 2024.
He is currently without a club after his United contract expired at the end of that season.
Speaking to former United player Ben Foster's podcast Fozcast last month, Williams admitted he missed playing.
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"It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play," he said. "I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games, having meals together and just doing things."