A FORMER Man Utd star has avoided jail after he was caught with a balloon in his mouth before he crashed his Audi in a 99mph horror smash.
Brandon Williams was driving erratically on the A34 near Handforth in Cheshire on August 20, 2023.
The 24-year-old was playing for Utd at the time but was loaned to Ipswich for the 2023-24 season.
Williams today avoided jail after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without third party insurance following the high-speed crash.
He was instead handed a 14 month sentence, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for three years.
Sentencing, Judge Eric Lamb said: “There was no reason for driving in the way you did.”
Chester Crown Court heard the defender was with a female passenger at the time of the crash and was “showing off”..
She was seen filming him at one point as Williams reached speeds of 99mph with a balloon in his mouth, it was said.
He lost control of the Audi A3 before it collided with a blue Ford Fiesta and then smashed into the central reservation.
Three of the occupants of the Fiesta, which was written off, were injured with one saying she “felt she was going to be killed”.
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The female driver and a male passenger suffered whiplash, while another passenger was left with seatbelt injuries and bruising.
Williams, who no longer has a team, was breathalysed at the scene but the test was negative.
A witness said Williams’ Audi had been “closing in” behind her before the smash and claimed both the star and his passenger had “yellow balloons in their mouths”.
But Max Saffman, prosecuting, told the court that the crown did not contend Williams was “impaired” by nitrous oxide or any other substance.
The footballer was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries before he was arrested.
Williams told police he was driving the Audi but initially denied he was driving erratically.
He also attempted to blame another driver for the crash – telling officers he only hit the central reservation as he was forced to swerve.
Williams was asked about witnesses who saw him with a balloon at his mouth but he replied: “No comment”.
The court heard had been given “too much too soon” and was experiencing “significant mental health issues” at the time.
Williams, who is without a club, is now said to be “in better shape mentally and physically” and is hoping to secure a contract this summer.
The footballer joined United’s academy as a youngster and went on to make 51 appearances for the first team.
Williams has spent two stints on loan away from Old Trafford — firstly with Norwich City during the 2021/22 season where he made 26 appearances and then Ipswich.
In June last year, Utd announced that Williams would leave the club at the end of his contract.
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 99 mph four seconds before he hit the Ford Fiesta.
“Witnesses said Williams kept speeding up and then breaking 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 a fortunate no one was seriously injured or killed.
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“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.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
