It was Good Friday in 2019, a day that should have been quiet, but it turned into a waking nightmare for the people of Nottinghamshire. Most folks were just getting their long weekend started when Gavin Collins road rage and a violent, drug-fueled rampage shattered the peace.
Honestly, calling it "road rage" doesn't even cover the half of it. It was a chaotic, multi-car crime spree that left a trail of destruction from Skegby to Mansfield Woodhouse, ending in the tragic death of an 87-year-old grandfather.
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The Morning the Chaos Started
Gavin Collins had only been out of prison for a single day. He’d been released early from HMP Ranby on April 18, 2019, despite some seriously red flags during his time inside—things like setting fire to his cell and attacking staff. By the next morning, he was behind the wheel of a stolen car, and things went south fast.
He crashed that first car into a house in Skegby. Most people would stop there, right? Not Collins. He jumped out, found another car, and just kept going.
A Descent Into Delusion
The dashcam footage from that day is haunting. You can see Collins ripping the rear-view mirror off the windshield, shouting that he didn't need it. He was screaming about being "Jesus" and a "descendant of God."
It wasn't just driving fast; it was total, reckless abandonment of reality. He was overtaking cars at terrifying speeds, eventually losing control and crashing again. But the most horrifying part of the Gavin Collins road rage story is what he did when he ran out of cars to steal.
- He forced his way into a local woman's home.
- He used his own blood to daub crucifixes on her and her children.
- He threatened their lives before stealing yet another vehicle.
The Tragic Loss of Terry Radford
The spree ended in Mansfield Woodhouse in the most heartbreaking way possible. Terance Radford—known as Terry to his friends—was a retired teacher, a former magistrate, and a pillar of the community. He was just 87 years old and was out for his morning walk, waiting at a bus stop.
Collins, driving a stolen Seat Leon, reversed at high speed and mounted the pavement. He hit Terry, killing him almost instantly. When Collins finally got out of the car, he didn't show remorse. Instead, he shouted, "I've killed him, I've killed the devil."
A Failure of the System?
This is where the story gets really frustrating for a lot of people. In 2024, a "Prevention of Future Deaths" report and a parliamentary debate highlighted some massive failures. Terry’s death was deemed "avoidable."
Think about that. If the prison governors hadn't pushed for his early release just to beat the bank holiday rush, or if his mental state had been properly assessed after he claimed he was "dying" in his cell days earlier, Terry Radford might still be here today.
Legal Fallout and Sentencing
In January 2020, the legal system finally caught up. Collins was initially charged with murder, but he was ultimately convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. His long history of drug use—specifically an addiction to "spice"—had clearly fried his mental state.
Gavin Collins road rage and the associated crimes led to a life sentence. Specifically:
- A minimum term of 14 years in prison.
- Convictions for burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, and attempted robbery.
- A lifelong reminder for the community of a day that changed everything.
The judge, HHJ Rafferty QC, didn't mince words, describing Collins as a "very dangerous man." The "diminished responsibility" plea was backed by psychiatric evidence showing he was in a state of acute psychosis during the rampage.
Why This Case Still Sticks With Us
It's been years, but the Gavin Collins road rage incident still pops up in the news because it's a case study in system failure. It wasn't just a "bad driver." It was a man with a violent history and a drug-induced psychosis being handed the keys to the world a week earlier than necessary.
Terry Radford's family has spent years fighting for answers. They’ve had to sit through inquests and watch prison officials explain why a man who was in segregation for violence was let out on a tag on a Thursday morning.
Lessons for Road Safety and Mental Health
If there is anything to take away from this tragedy, it's that we have to take mental health and drug rehabilitation in prisons more seriously. "Spice" isn't just a drug; in cases like this, it becomes a weapon.
Also, it reminds us that "road rage" is a broad term. Sometimes, what looks like a crazy driver on the highway is actually a much deeper, more dangerous situation unfolding.
What to do if you witness erratic driving:
- Keep your distance. Don't try to "teach them a lesson" or block them.
- Call 999 immediately. Give the operator the make, model, and as much of the license plate as you can safely see.
- Do not engage. If the driver stops and approaches your car, keep your doors locked and windows up.
If you're interested in more details on how the UK legal system handles these high-profile sprees, you can look up the official Hansard records for the "Prevention of Future Deaths Report: Terance Radford." It’s a sobering read that lays out exactly where the ball was dropped.