Copyright mirror
A property developer died after losing control of his Ferrari despite the efforts of bodyguards for former Prime Minister David Cameron , an inquest heard. Motorsports fan Benjamin Gladman, 31, crashed the Ferrari 360 he had wanted since he was a boy after revving the engine so his girlfriend could hear the sound, the hearing was told. The property developer died in the crash near Marlingford in Norfolk on January 25, while his girlfriend Barbara Zart was injured but survived. Conservative Peer Cameron, who was on a shooting weekend nearby, was among the first on the scene and his close protection officers, who are trained in first aid, tried to help. Pc Alan Gould, who was driving an unmarked Land Rover Discovery, said he came across the crash and stopped to help, with fellow officers providing first aid. Yvonne Blake, area coroner for Norfolk, said Mr Gladman's mother Dr Hilary Sporton and twin brother Matthew Gladman described him as a "beautiful, generous soul who cared so much about others". Reading from a joint statement from the family, Ms Blake said Mr Gladman and his brother were business partners and had started a property development firm in Norwich. Mr Gladman's address was given as Brentwood in Essex, but the hearing was told he lived near to where he crashed. The twins "shared a huge love for motor racing, including Formula One", the family said. "The boys even bought a Ferrari as an investment." The statement read by the coroner said the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale had a 3.6-litre petrol engine and the brothers "were always careful and respectful" when driving it. Ms Zart said in a statement read by the coroner that her partner "wanted me to go out with him in his car, the Ferrari". "It was his favourite car, he had wanted since he was a little boy," she said. "Even though he doesn't really use the car, it was an investment. He had it serviced every year." She said they had planned to drive into Norwich for coffee and "Ben had driven the road where the accident happened lots, he lived in the village". "I remember Ben wanted to show me the sound of the engine because it's like the race engine," Ms Zart said. She said he would normally drive at 30mph but may have been driving at 50 to 60mph that day, still within the 60mph national speed limit for that section of road. "I remember the car started to lose control," she said. A forensic collision report gave the time of the crash as 2.52pm, and noted the car had spun and hit a tree. Peter Humphries, who was fishing nearby at Melton Ponds fishing lakes, said he "heard a very loud engine revving". "It lasted no more than five seconds then there was a loud bang," he said. He described the revving as "off the chart" and "unbelievably loud". Ms Blake said Mr Gladman died of multiple severe traumatic injuries in the crash at Bow Hill. She said the motorist, who had adopted a husky cross rescue dog called Dobby, was a "Formula One enthusiast". "Hard-working, sounds like he was a thoroughly nice man in a happy relationship," she said. "Goes out to take his girlfriend out in his car, wants her to hear what it sounds like." She said police officers noted the muddy verge "may have contributed to the lack of grip" but that "we don't know exactly why" the car left the road. The coroner recorded that Mr Gladman died as the result of a road traffic collision and told his mother: "I'm so sorry that you've lost your son in this horrendous way."
