A drink-driver left a woman severely injured after going the wrong way down the M4 and hitting her car in a head-on collision. William Lawrence, 25, had no memory of causing the crash which left Rhianne Tucker with a fractured vertebrae.
The collision took place near Newport shortly before midnight on February 10 when police received a number of phone calls to say the defendant was driving on the wrong side of the road. Lawrence was more than twice the legal drink-drive limit after attending a funeral where he drank spirits.
The head-on collision with Ms Tucker's vehicle resulted in the defendant sustaining multiple broken bones. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday heard how Ms Tucker's job involved working with children with learning difficulties. She has not been able to return to work due to her injuries. She also finds it hard to sleep and she needs extra help and support from relatives.
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In his sentencing remarks Recorder John Philpotts said: "You can see now from watching the CCTV what a terrifying act that was. You were driving at high speed.... You drove into a head-on collision with another vehicle whose driver suffered serious injuries...
"I can't ignore the fact your driving raised a terrifying risk, a risk of fatality. People could have been killed, including yourself. This incident could have turned out worse than it did but that is no thank to you."
Lawrence, of Sunny Bank, St George, Bristol, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance. The court heard the defendant had a number of relevant convictions including driving offences .Defence barrister Scott Bowen told the court his client was remorseful for his behaviour and wished to apologise to the victim.
He was sentenced to a total of three years imprisonment. He was also disqualified from driving for three years once he has been released from prison. Gwent Police did not have a custody image of the defendant.
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