A MAN drove a defective car at high speed in wet conditions before crashing into a tree, causing serious injuries to his three passengers, one suffering “life-changing” disabilities. Adam Richardson ignored pleas to slow down before losing control of the Ford Focus, bought earlier that day, and leaving the B1281 Hesleden Road, in Blackhall. It careered into the tree near to the entrance to the Hardwicke Hall Manor Hotel, at about 9pm on April 3, 2019. Durham Crown Court heard that before emergency services arrived he threatened his injured passengers, urging them not to identify him as the driver. When police did reach the scene, Richardson was said to be “very hostile” and swallowed the SIM card to his phone to prevent officers checking its contents.