Public anger erupted today after two reckless brothers who nearly killed a teenage girl while racing each other in luxury cars bought by their parents walked free from jail — despite a judge branding them “idiots”, “selfish”, and “immature”.

The brothers, Harrison Taylor, 19, and Henry Taylor, 21, avoided immediate custody after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving, following a horrific early-morning crash on the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula in Dorset — often dubbed the “millionaires’ playground”.

Their victim, Mia Savage, was just 17 years old when her life was shattered in seconds on Boxing Day 2023. She was left critically injured, trapped in twisted metal, and airlifted to hospital with life-changing injuries after the brothers raced one another at almost three times the speed limit.

‘PEDAL TO THE METAL’ BEFORE HORROR CRASH

Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Harrison Taylor was driving a Mercedes A200, with Mia sitting in the front passenger seat, while his older brother Henry followed closely behind in a BMW 135i.

Shortly after 1am, the brothers accelerated along a 30mph residential road at speeds of 80 to 90mph, treating the narrow streets of Sandbanks like a private racetrack.

Judge Robert Pawson told the court that Harrison had his foot “100 per cent down — pedal to the metal” moments before disaster struck.

Harrison lost control of the Mercedes, slamming into a gatepost outside a multi-million-pound mansion. Seconds later, Henry’s BMW ploughed into the back of his brother’s car, sending the Mercedes flying forward into a garden wall.

The impact crushed the vehicle, leaving Mia trapped inside the wreckage.

TEENAGER LEFT WITH SHATTERED BODY AND PTSD

Emergency crews had to cut Mia free from the mangled car before she was airlifted to hospital, where doctors fought to save her life.

The court heard the devastating extent of her injuries:

A shattered left femur

A fractured neck

A broken arm

Eight broken ribs

Severe internal bleeding

A severed spleen

A split diaphragm

A lacerated liver

Mia underwent complex, life-saving surgery and was placed in an induced coma for a week.

Now a young woman living with permanent scars, she suffers from PTSD, flashbacks, and ongoing physical pain. Months of physiotherapy followed, and her education was badly disrupted.

A student at the private Clayesmore School, Mia was forced to miss out on her chosen university after her grades suffered due to prolonged recovery.

In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, she told the court:

“I wish every day that I had stayed in the car with Reuben and not joined Harrison.”

‘RICH KIDS’ GIVEN POWERFUL CARS AFTER PARENTS’ SPLIT

The court heard that the Mercedes and BMW had been gifted to the brothers by their parents, allegedly to help them cope emotionally following their parents’ separation.

Judge Pawson was scathing about the decision.

He said:

“Whoever bought two immature young men cars with 300 and 150 horsepower showed a distinct lack of foresight.”

On the night of the crash, the brothers had been drinking socially with friends at a nearby property off Canford Cliffs Road, before deciding to go for a late-night drive.

Three cars set off in convoy: the Mercedes, the BMW, and a VW Polo driven by a friend.

The Polo quickly fell behind as the brothers accelerated aggressively, leaving it trailing as they raced ahead.

JUDGE: ‘YOU ARE NOT THE VICTIMS’

Despite the seriousness of the offence, and expectations that both men would be jailed, Judge Pawson imposed 18-month suspended sentences, citing their young ages, guilty pleas, and previous good character.

The brothers were also:

Banned from driving for three years

Given a 14-month tagged curfew from 8pm to 6am

But the decision sparked immediate fury, especially among Mia’s family.

Judge Pawson made it clear the brothers were extremely lucky.

“You are not victims,” he said.
“You have potentially ruined another human being’s life with your actions, selfishness and immaturity.”

He added bluntly:

“You are idiots.”

And warned:

“Had Mia Savage died, you would be facing well over a decade in prison.”

‘THEY RUINED THREE LIVES — AND WALKED OUT’

Outside court, Mia’s mother Karen Bulgarelli, a lawyer, spoke of her devastation and anger at the outcome.

“They have ruined three people’s lives,” she said,
“yet they are all clapping each other on the back that they’re walking out.”

She described the night of the crash as “every parent’s worst nightmare”, recalling how she rushed to the scene and waited helplessly as firefighters worked just feet away from her trapped daughter.

“They told me to prepare myself,” she said.
“Her injuries were very serious and life-threatening. Every update, I thought they were going to say they had lost her.”

Seeing her daughter before surgery was “shocking”, she said, revealing that Mia’s damaged organs had been forced up into her chest cavity.

“Every surgery was critical,” she added.
“It’s incredible she survived.”

‘CASES LIKE THIS HAVE NO WINNERS’

Judge Pawson acknowledged the catastrophic impact on Mia’s life, describing it as “appalling” and the brothers’ behaviour as “staggering stupidity”.

He criticised both men for failing to show courage or honour by admitting the truth sooner and dismissed Henry’s claim that he was only travelling at 35mph as “nonsense”.

Summing up, the judge said:

“Cases like this have no winners. Only losers.”

PUBLIC BACKLASH

As news of the sentence spread, public reaction was swift and furious, with many questioning how two young men from a wealthy background could nearly kill a teenager and still avoid prison.

Campaigners renewed calls for tougher sentencing for dangerous driving, particularly in cases involving young drivers and high-powered vehicles.

For Mia Savage, the consequences will last a lifetime.

For the brothers who caused it — the punishment, many believe, will not.