A couple from Lancashire are taking legal action against a wealthy businessman after he ploughed his high-performance McLaren into their home while seeking 'cheap thrills', causing a staggering quarter of a million pounds in damage.
A Night of Terror in Lytham St Annes
In the early hours of December 23, 2023, Zachary Hocking, a 28-year-old company director, was drunk and driving at 91mph in a 30mph zone. He lost control of his £90,000 McLaren 570GT sports car on a residential street in Lytham St Annes. The vehicle first smashed into a lamppost before careering into the home of Mandy and David Withers, who were fast asleep inside.
The couple were jolted awake by what they described as an 'enormous bang'. Looking outside, they were met with a scene of devastation: the blue supercar had exploded and was on fire, mere feet from their front door. Hocking had been thrown from the wreckage, still strapped into his seat, and was badly injured. His passenger was also seriously hurt and required firefighters to cut him free from the mangled remains of the vehicle.
The Aftermath: A 'Living Hell' and a Legal Battle
Mr and Mrs Withers evacuated immediately, but the inferno blew out a downstairs window and caused extensive internal damage. They lost all their belongings in the blaze, which also destroyed their own car parked outside. The couple were forced to live in a one-bedroom apartment for 14 months while their home was made habitable again.
Last month at Preston Crown Court, Hocking, who runs several holiday parks in Lancashire, admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for 28 months. Judge Paul Hodgkinson told the 'selfish' driver he had 'wrecked' the Withers' lives, costing them 'financially, emotionally, physically and mentally'. Both victims have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and prescribed anti-depressants.
Despite the criminal conviction, the couple are furious that Hocking faced no charges directly related to the destruction of their property. They are now suing him for compensation, having been forced to claim on their own insurance as Hocking was uninsured at the time of the crash.
Lasting Trauma and a Search for Justice
David Withers, 64, an accountant, said the past two years have been a 'living nightmare'. His wife, who runs an antiques shop, has been profoundly affected, finding day-to-day life 'very hard'. The stress of the case led to her being hospitalised and she was unable to open her store for much of last year.
'We've lost all our belongings and precious keepsakes from our children, missed time with our family and it has cost us financially,' Mrs Withers, 59, told the court. Her husband added, 'We continually feel nervous and unsafe when we hear cars speeding outside our house. We will probably never be the same people again.'
Police photographs showed the McLaren was virtually destroyed. Inspector Greg Laidlow of Lancashire Police stated it was 'a miracle that no-one was killed' and described Hocking's driving as 'extremely reckless and selfish'. Hocking was also banned from driving for 74 months.
