Full Breakdown
Drink-Driving Crash in Sutton Coldfield Leads to Eight-and-Half-Year Sentence
By Drooid · · How we work
The Fatal Collision
On Saturday, August 16, 2025, just before 6 p.m., Arjun Nijjar (23) was driving his mother’s Mercedes-Benz E60 AMG on Thornhill Road, a 30 mph residential street near the Sutton Coldfield Golf Club clubhouse. Court evidence showed he was traveling 83.92 mph—almost three times the speed limit—and had a blood-alcohol level three times over the legal limit. While attempting to cross at a pelican crossing, Douglas Draper (79), a grandfather of two, was struck with such force that he was killed instantly.
Legal Outcome
Nijjar pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol. At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday, October 13, he was sentenced to eight and a half years’ imprisonment and received a driving ban of more than ten years. The court noted he had no previous convictions and held a clean licence before the crash.
Data & Statistics
- Speed: 83.92 mph in a 30 mph zone.
- Alcohol: Roadside breath test = 105 µg/100 ml (legal limit = 35 µg/100 ml); blood sample = 186 mg/100 ml taken three hours after the incident; expert back-calculation ? 245 mg/100 ml (three times the legal 80 mg/100 ml limit).
- Vehicle: High-powered Mercedes-Benz E60 AMG with a 6.2-litre petrol engine; the anti-lock braking system was reported as non-functional, though the prosecutor argued this would not have altered the outcome given the speed.
Official Statements & Responses
- Defense barrister Balraj Bhatia KC described Nijjar as “decent, caring and considerate,” noting he came from a “strong, loving and supportive” family. Bhatia linked the incident to “issues” such as the breakdown of a three-year relationship and the loss of Nijjar’s business, which led him to “drink heavily” in the months before the crash.
- Judge Michael Chambers KC called the case “truly appalling,” remarking that the victim was a “much-loved, respectable 79-year-old man.” He underscored the profound loss to Draper’s family.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There can be no excuse for the manner of driving at that sort of speed in a residential area. He fully accepts that.” — Sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers KC
- “Little did he know, and sadly Mr Draper's family [too], that August 16, 2025, would be a tragic turning point.” — Mr Bhatia
Impact on Victim’s Family
Douglas Draper’s surviving relatives include his wife of 46 years, his son, daughter-in-law, and two young grandchildren, all of whom were present in the public gallery during sentencing.
Timeline
- August 16, 2025 – Collision resulting in Douglas Draper’s death.
- October 13 – Sentencing of Arjun Nijjar to eight and a half years’ imprisonment.