UK YouTuber duo TGF have been sentenced in court for an ‘Extreme Driving Test’ video they produced showing them recklessly driving a Renault Clio.
TGF, which has 6m subscribers on YouTube and features pranksters Jay Swingler (pictured left) and Romell Henry (centre), posted the video in March 2020. This racked up 8m views but was later deleted, though has been re-uploaded by several channels like this one.
It shows them driving up grass verges, driving without holding the steering wheel, ripping off a wing mirror and indicator stick (before chanting “fuck the indicator”), driving fast and slow, reversing into another car and flipping the car onto its side – all while making jokes and generally mucking about in the car.
The pair took turns driving in the video with instructor Richard Percival (pictured right), and their antics continually wound him up, resulting in him shouting at them and telling them to drive safer.
Jay Swingler, one half of TGF, said having to watch the video in court in front of a judge was the most awkward experience of his life.
They both pleaded guilty to careless driving, reports the Shropshire Star, and were each fined £1,000 and received five points each on their driving licenses. They were also ordered to pay £95 in court fees. Richard Percival will be sentenced at a later date.
TGF’s defendant William Douglas-Jones said the pair took measures to prevent risk to other drivers during the shooting, such as having ‘safety’ cars in front of and behind the Renault Clio, which also helped film the video.
Judge Anthony Lowe said their antics were “remarkably stupid, immature and irresponsible”.
The judge added:
“Quite why eight million people want to watch [this video], I have no idea. I suspect it’s a generational thing.”
Judge Anthony Lowe
He said the YouTubers should have obtained permission from the police and local council first.
TGF have produced a string of viral videos over the years, including one that saw Jay Swingler stick a microwave to his head with concrete, which resulted in assistance from the emergency services and national newspaper coverage.
Jay Swingler will also be taking part in a YouTuber boxing match versus Cherdleys on October 15th 2022 in Sheffield, as part of the MF & DAZN X Series.
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Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
