Paedophile's daughter 'crashed while fleeing vigilantes'

A north Wales family were victimised by local people after the husband was jailed for sex offences against children, a court heard.

After one incident, the man's daughter fled in her pyjamas, jumped into a pick-up truck and drove off - only to crash into an oncoming BMW car, Flintshire magistrates were told.

Sonya Claire Burgers, 18, was so upset that she gave a false name and left the scene, the court heard.

However, she later returned to the scene and admitted to police that she was the driver.

'Severe trauma and anxiety'

Burgers, of Bron-y-Wern in Bagillt, admitted failing to stop after an accident, driving without a licence, having no insurance and no MOT. She was put on probation for a year.

Her solicitor Miss Caroline Wynne told the court that the incident happened the evening after the defendant's 18th birthday and she was suffering severe trauma and anxiety.

Her father had been jailed "for the most public of offences" which meant that he was now a Schedule One offender.

Following recent publicity surrounding sex offenders, the family had been victimised, she said.

Burgers had bought a vehicle in the hope of passing her driving test and on the evening of the crash was fleeing from the area having suffered a very traumatic time from people in the village who had found out about her father.

Car damaged

"She fled still wearing her pyjamas which shows the state of mind she was in," explained Miss Wynne.

In addition to the probation, Burgers was ordered to pay £50 compensation towards the insurance excess and also had to pay prosecution costs of £30.

The court heard that damage estimated at £2,600 had been caused to the BMW which was being driven by Mrs Lyn Thomas from Gadlys Lane towards Bagillt High Street.

As she approached the junction, the red pick-up truck driven by the defendant approached on the wrong side of the road and hit the front of the BMW.

Burgers told Mrs Thomas that her name was Ceri Williams and then drove off but returned while police were still at the scene and owned up to what she had done, explained prosecutor Mr Jim Neary.