Accused 'asked for forgiveness' before crashing car

A man accused of attempting to murder three children by crashing a car into oncoming traffic left voice messages saying he hoped he could live in peace with god, a court has heard.

A prosecution witness, who can not be named for legal reasons, told a trial that Tancredo Bankhardt, 41, left the messages before he collided with another car on the A146 at Loddon, Norfolk last year.

A 999 call was played to the jury, in which an operator was told Bankhardt had been "acting very out of control" and threatened to kill himself.

The witness also said the defendant had asked them to "pray for him" and "asked for forgiveness". Bankhardt, of Saxon Road, Great Yarmouth, denies the charges.

The prosecution has said the defendant deliberately drove at 74mph towards oncoming traffic on the A146 in Loddon on 26 September, which has a 60mph limit.

The jury at Norwich Crown Court has been told Bankhardt had made sure none of the children in the Vauxhall Astra were wearing seatbelts at the time.

His car collided with another vehicle at 20:33 BST — about an hour after the witness had called the police.

Bankhardt, represented by Simon Spence KC, also denies three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving — two in respect of two of the three children; the third count in respect of another man.

He denies an additional charge of dangerous driving.

The trial continues and is expected to last two weeks.

Do you have a story suggestion for Norfolk? Contact us below.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.