Project manager crashed Aston Martin by McDonald's while on cocaine

High-flying project manager, 34, drove to McDonald’s while high on cocaine and crashed his £150,000 Aston Martin supercar into a barrier before fleeing from the wreckage on foot

• Lee Jones, 34, was fined more than £1,700 and ordered to pay £1,500 in costs
• He previously failed to attend the final day of his trial, where he was found guilty 

A high -flying project manager drove to McDonald’s while high on cocaine before crashing his £150,000 Aston Martin DB11 supercar and fleeing the wreckage on foot, a court has heard.

Lee Jones, 34, was fined more than £1,700 over the Berkshire incident, which occurred as he overshot a junction and smashed into a crash barrier.

He failed to attend the final day of his trial and was found guilty in his absence of drug driving, failing to stop and failing to report an incident.

Jones, project manager for the Battersea Power Station redevelopment, then abandoned the 192mph sports car and fled on foot to his five bedroom detached home, one and half miles away.

Police were called to the scene of the late night crash, on the A34 near Newbury, Berkshire, and traced the 500-horse-power car to Jones’ address in the nearby hamlet of Wash Water, Hampshire.

Lee Jones, 34, was fined more than £1,700 over the incident, which occurred as he overshot a junction and smashed into a crash barrier

Jones failed to attend the final day of his trial and was found guilty in his absence of drug driving, failing to stop and failing to report an incident

When they arrived at the £550,000 house, Jones was ‘frantic and pacing around’, the court heard.

The father of two admitted taking cocaine two days before the incident, and said he had taken more than usual.

Jones was on his way back home from a McDonald’s at a nearby services close to Highclere Castle – where ITV series Downton Abbey was set.

At sentencing, prosecutor Tim Corke told Basingstoke Magistrates Court: ‘Police were called to reports of a road traffic collision.

‘When they arrived the found an Aston Martin with considerable damage.

‘The air bags had been deployed, and they were concerned for the driver and any passengers.

‘They found the car was linked to Jones. When they arrived at his house, he was described as being frantic and pacing around.

‘He tested positive for cocaine with a reading of 32 micrograms of cocaine in his system.’

Representing himself in court, Jones claimed he had learned from the incident, which occurred in September 2020.

He told the hearing: ‘It was a long time ago – I’m not condoning my behaviour.

‘I attended rehab for cocaine in December 2020, I’m now two and a half years clean and I’m a sponsor for new cocaine addicts anonymous joiners.

‘I just want to put this behind me and move on with my life.’

Jones was driving back from a McDonald’s on the A34 near to Newbury (pictured)

Jones crashed his silver Aston Martin DB11 (Pictured: Aston Martin DB11, stock image)

Referring to his Battersea Power Station job, Jones said: ‘I earn £75,000 a year; about £4,800 a month. It’s a high profile, intensive job.’

District Judge Timothy Pattinson also fined Jones £900 for drug driving, £300 for failing to stop, £300 for failing to report and a surcharge of £160.

Jones was fined an additional £100 fine having pleaded guilty to failing to attend his previous court hearing, and was ordered to pay legal costs of £1,500.

He was  also handed an 18-month driving ban. 

At the trial in April, prosecutor Kerry Richardson had said: ‘[In his police interview] Mr Jones claimed he over-shot the junction and his brakes locked up.

‘He was at home with his two children and then he decided to go to McDonald’s at Tot Hill Services but it was closed.

‘[After the accident] he got out of the car but did not call police or stay with the car.

‘He called a recovery agent, but didn’t think he needed to call police. He admitted drinking one can of cider but denied using drugs.

‘He said he last used cocaine [two days before] for the first time in a while.’

Convicting Jones at the April hearing, Judge Pattinson said: ”When police arrived they saw significant damage to the car.

‘A crash barrier had been pushed over and a road sign had also been damaged. The vehicle was registered to Mr Jones, police attended his home address.

‘He displayed signs of being under the influence of a drug.

‘They requested he did a drug wipe and he tested positive for cocaine. He was arrested and blood was taken – it tested positive for cocaine.

‘Mr Jones admitted taking [the drug]. He knew he would be over the limit. By his own admission, he knew what he took was a lot for him.

‘Mr Jones did not stop or report the incident to police. I find him guilty of all three charges.’

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