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15 months' jail for horror-crash driver
A Hunmanby man has been jailed for 15 months after causing a crash which left a former soldier with horrific injuries.
Refrigeration engineer Daniel Abela, 28, who is now unable to walk without crutches, watched from the public gallery at Hull Crown Court as 39-year-old Neil Dixon was sentenced.
Dixon, who admitted dangerous driving and drink-driving, cast a sad glance at Mr Abela as he was sent down after telling his barrister: "I wish I could exchange places with him."
Mr Abela, of North Frodingham, received a fracture to his eye socket and multiple fractures to his legs, ankles and feet, resulting in surgeons having to place steel rods through his limbs.
The former soldier has also been left with difficulty focusing with both eyes.
Mr Abela had been looking forward to spending Father's Day with his family but can remember nothing after turning on to the A165 near Beeford towards Bridlington and the horrific crash at around 9.10pm on June 14.
Mr Abela's Rover was shunted off the road into a ditch, leaving him trapped in his car with serious injuries. He had to be freed by firefighters before being airlifted to Hull Royal Infirmary.
Crown barrister Jane Bryan told the court Dixon was on the wrong side of the road, speeding between 70 and 80mph before the impact. He had overtaken at least one other car before losing control in slippery conditions and mounting a grass verge before impact.
When questioned at the scene, Dixon said: "I was driving like an idiot. I just lost control," the court heard.
Dixon, of Stonegate, had 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; the legal limit is 35. He admitted downing half a bottle of wine and was driving from Bridlington to spend the night with friends in Hull.
Defence barrister Mark Bury said Dixon was not the "boy racer" type and the last thing on his mind that night was crashing his treasured 1993 Saab – one of only 600 made.
"He is a man who before this offence was of entirely good character," said Mr Bury. "Mr Dixon has lost his job and it won't be long before he loses his home. He is single and cannot afford the mortgage repayments."
The court heard he only chose to drive to Hull that night after friends offered him a "shoulder to cry on" because he was having difficulty coping after ending a long-term relationship.
Mr Bury said he felt remorse for the long-term effect he had left Mr Abela and his family and wished he could change places.
Jailing him for 15 months, Recorder Charles Ekins said Dixon's driving had a "catastrophic effect" on Mr Abela.
"The offence is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified", said Mr Ekins
He also ordered Dixon should be given a 15-month driving ban and take an extended test.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Abela admitted: "I feel angry. I spent six weeks in hospital."
Described in court as stoical, he said: "I was in the Army and I survived a war and I will survive this. Whether Mr Dixon is imprisoned for a week or a century will not improve my circumstances at all."
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Weather for Scarborough
Friday 25 May 2012
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