POOLE police are warning drivers of the dangers of excessive speed following a collision on Banks Road that left a 17-year-old girl with serious, life-altering injuries.

Brothers Henry Taylor, 21, and Harrison Taylor, 19, both from Poole, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to the crash, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, December 26, 2023.

Harrison Taylor was driving a Mercedes A200 with the teenage passenger in the front seat, while Henry Taylor followed in a BMW M135, also carrying a female passenger.

An investigation by the Serious Collision Investigation Team revealed the vehicles were travelling in convoy at speeds exceeding 70mph on a 30mph road.

The Mercedes failed to negotiate a right-hand bend and struck a gatepost before the BMW collided with it.

The 17-year-old passenger was trapped in the vehicle and required extraction by the fire service before being taken to hospital with multiple serious injuries.

Both brothers were summoned to Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday, January 8.

They were sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for three years.

Sergeant Mike Burt, of the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: “It is clear from the evidence that these brothers were racing each other and travelling at highly excessive speeds prior to the collision, which resulted in devastating injuries for one teenage passenger.

“The actions of the young drivers that night have left the victim with injuries that will have a life-long physical and mental impact.

“We will continue to thoroughly investigate all incidents of motorists flouting the law on our road networks and conduct proactive patrols to keep road users safe.”

Police are urging drivers to take the dangers of reckless driving seriously, reminding the public that even short stretches of road can be deadly when speed limits are ignored.