Brands Hatch track invader sentenced to eight months in prison

Jack Cottle had pleaded guilty to a public nuisance charge at Maidstone Crown Court last month after almost completing a full lap of the Kent circuit in a friend's Volkswagen Polo during the four-hour endurance event on June 14.

VIDEO: BRANDS HATCH ROAD CAR INCIDENT

After being granted bail with a condition of residence, the 22-year-old was handed his sentence on Monday by Judge Martin Joy, who described Cottle's actions as "premeditated" and "inexcusable".

"Your deliberate behaviour endangered not only your own life but those of your passengers, the competitors, the emergency services, the marshals, stewards and anyone else who was nearby," Judge Joy told Cottle.

"The sentence must reflect the need to deter others who might be tempted to act as you did," he added, having warned during Cottle's previous hearing that a jail sentence was likely.

The court was shown four clips of the incident, including one filmed by a back seat passenger, showing Cottle ignoring his girlfriend's pleas to stop the car.

Jonathan Palmer, chief executive of Brands Hatch owner MotorSport Vision, said he was satisfied with the sentence.

"I am really pleased that Kent Police and the court have quite rightly taken such a tough stance on this deliberately reckless act, which endangered the lives of the drivers racing on circuit and the volunteer track marshals, not to mention Jack Cottle and his passengers," said Palmer.

"His idiotic and selfish behaviour - aggravated by his unrepentant attitude in subsequent media coverage - received much immediate condemnation.

"His conviction and prison sentence will serve to reinforce the message that this kind of antisocial behaviour is not only stupid, but will lead to prosecution."