Crash drink-driver sent to prison (From Witney Gazette)

Crash drink-driver sent to prison

12:50pm Monday 22nd January 2007 in Witney

A 37-YEAR-OLD Witney driver who smashed into another car while more than twice the legal drink-drive limit was jailed on Thursday.

Sales director Christopher Josseph crashed into a car on the A40, leaving a woman disabled, and another man with serious injuries.

He had been spotted careering along the stretch near Cheltenham in a Vauxhall Astra before the collision on March 5 last year, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

However, Josseph had insisted he could not remember anything about the crash, or where he had been driving to, the judge was told.

Josseph, of Oakmead, Witney, a director of N-Spire Insurance Services, of Oxford, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

James Cranfield, prosecuting, said Josseph had been seen to overtake vehicles and travel on the wrong side of the road.

A witness estimated he had been speeding at 75 to 80mph in a 50mph-limit zone, he added.

Trudy and Simon Barlow were driving in a Suzuki on the A40 at Tunnel Hill, Andoversford, when they saw Josseph's car hit bollards before colliding with the left side of their vehicle.

Mr and Mrs Barlow, from Watford, had been cut out of the wreckage, the court heard. Both lost consciousness and suffered serious injuries.

One of Mrs Barlow's femurs, her pelvis, and wrist were fractured, while Mr Barlow suffered serious cuts and bruises. Mr Cranfield said 32-year-old Mrs Barlow's prognosis was 'not good'.

He said Josseph had suffered injuries as well, and had been left unconscious after the crash.

He said tests had shown Josseph's blood to contain 184mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - the legal limit is 80mg.

The court was told Josseph had not had a drink that day, but had drunk ten pints the night before, said Mr Cranfield.

It also emerged Josseph had a previous conviction in 1997 for drink-driving.

Judge Jamie Tabor said: "This is a very serious case.

"Had they been killed he would be going to prison for about six years."

Defending, Jason Coulter said that Josseph had shown real remorse for his action and had written a letter to the victims.

"He hopes one day, if his victims would like it, to deliver a personal apology.

"To this day, he cannot understand why he was going to Cheltenham."

The judge said the case demonstrated the gap in sentencing legislation between reckless drivers, who kill others, and those who injure them - maximum sentences being much lower for those who injure.

He said: "This defendant is 37.

"He's an educated man holding down a sensible, responsible job, but on this day he drove remarkably badly with great irresponsibility.

"He was driving far in excess of the speed limit, and furthermore, he has a previous conviction for drink-driving."

He sentenced Josseph to 16 months for dangerous driving and one month for driving with excess alcohol, to be served concurrently.

He also disqualified Josseph from driving for five years, and ordered that he take an extended road test.