A Taunton Titans rugby player has been cleared of dangerous driving, but found guilty of the lesser offence of careless driving.

Second row forward Taine Benson crashed his car in Devon in September 2021 while he was with Sidmouth Rugby Club. Two of his teammates were in the car, and one was seriously injured in the accident.

Exeter Crown Court heard that Benson was 17 at the time and had only passed his driving test at the end of May that year. The accident happened as he was giving two teammates a lift after a Sidmouth Rugby Club training session. The prosecution alleged that he was showing off to his two friends by driving at 70 mph on a country lane. He lost control on a bend and his car rose up a bank and rolled up to four times, ending up on its passenger side 29 metres away.

Back seat passenger Tim Goody suffered a serious leg injury which needed surgery under general anaesthetic to repair his Achilles tendon. He was cut from the wreckage by firefighters and spent two nights in hospital.

Front seat passenger Yan Mercan climbed out of the wreckage almost unhurt, but Benson suffered severe concussion and was so confused after the accident he was heard asking ‘who’s crashed my car?’.

The court heard that the two passengers saw the speed at 70 mph shortly before the accident and had joked that they were 'going to die'. One said he had asked Benson to slow down.

Benson, now aged 20, was found not guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving but was convicted of the lesser offence of careless driving on his own admission.

He told the jury that although he had no memory of the journey which ended in the crash, he was sure he would not have driven in a way that put his passengers or himself in danger.

His barrister Mr Jason Beal told the jury that the case bore none of usual features of dangerous driving such as going through red lights, crossing double white lines, or evading the police.

He said Benson is able to pay a fine because he had saved about £10,000 to fund his higher education by working as a health care worker during his gap year. He plans to work in hospitality during his summer holidays if he retains his licence.

He was fined £715 with £85 costs by Judge Stephen Climie, who endorsed his licence with five points. The penalty means he will not have his licence revoked.