A soldier left two pensioners seriously injured by smashing into them head-on while overtaking on the blind brow of a hill in "a moment of madness".
Army mechanic Kirsten Robb had just left Albemarle Barracks, in Northumberland, when she took the out of character gamble to ignore a solid white line and attempt the manoeuvre on the Military Road. Coming the other way were Brian Worth, 73 and Kate Worth, 66, in their BMW.
Mr Worth reacted quickly to try to steer out of the imminent collision but didn't have time to avoid it, although he was told his actions had probably saved his and his wife's lives. However they were both seriously injured and it was initially feared that Mr Worth would not survive.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard that he did but has been left a shadow of his former self and both of them have been left with ongoing problems as a result of their injuries. They had come to live in Northumberland for a fresh start after their son died, only to face fresh suffering.
It was around 6.30pm on June 13 last year when the crash happened. Robb was less than a mile from her barracks, driving a Renault Captur. Mr Worth described what happened: "I was almost at the crest of the hill when a blue vehicle appeared at the crest on my side of he road." He added: "There was no time to avoid a collision. The airbags went off and I lost consciousness."
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, said: "This was less than one second before they collided. He tried to steer to the left but could do nothing to prevent a head-on collision."
When police got to the scene, Mr Worth was trapped in the car, his wife was lying on the ground being treated by paramedics and Robb was in an ambulance. Mr Worth suffered crush injuries and various fractures to his limbs, two crushed kneecaps, a broken back and a significant head injury which led to bleeding on the brain.
Mrs Worth suffered injuries including a fractured arm, nerve damage in her shoulder and neck and a dislocated finger that needed operations and is now fixed in a hook position.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Worth described being "in so much pain" and how the emergency services said his actions in steering to try to avoid the crash had saved their lives. He was not expected to live, spent three months in the RVI in Newcastle and developed pneumonia. He continues to suffer pain and reduced mobility from the injuries to his legs and back and has suffered memory loss and cognitive impairment.
He added that it has impacted on his ability to do things he enjoyed, like gardening and golf, which he may never be able to do again. Mr Worth said: "This has had a huge impact on myself. My life will never return to how it was." He also described developing a potentially fatal medical condition which he attributes to the accident but no supporting evidence was before the court.
Mrs Worth said: "I was told I might lose Brian. I couldn't believe I was going through this again after we lost our son to cancer. I thought I would lose the man I've loved for 50 years. Brian is a shadow of his former self and I can't function like I used to."
She was in hospital for five weeks and outlined additional injuries she said she suffered, including broken bones. She said: "I was such a fit, confident, outgoing person and now I'm self-conscious and embarrassed and I don't want to meet people and socialise."
The court heard Robb was also injured but not as seriously and has made a good recovery, sufficient to continue in her job with the army as a mechanic, which she is "passionate" about. Judge Julie Clemitson said the offence was viewed as "entirely out of character" by those who knew her. She added: "Sending you to prison is likely to be the end of your military career.
"I'm confident the consequences of your actions will haunt you every day. I must not lose sight of the fact this was a moment of madness. It's plain you never intended for anyone to be harmed and it's not in your character to take risks with the safety of other people."
Robb, 30, who admitted two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was sentenced to 20 months suspended for two years, banned from driving for two years and must pay £350 costs.
John Greany, defending, said Robb faces military disciplinary proceedings but added that there is a "good prospect of rehabilitation". He handed in character statements and told the court: "She is genuinely sorry, extremely sorry."
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