Oxfordshire crash: Driver avoids jail after serious injuries
Ian Steel, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, was the driver of a Peugeot which caused a crash on the A420 near Abingdon on November 23, 2023. Steel, 45, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday, October 15 after he pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving and two counts of drug driving on the same occasion. Judge Michael Roques handed him a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Prosecuting barrister Emma Fielding told the court that Steel had initially denied the offences, but changed his plea to guilty on the fist day of trial earlier this year. The court heard that Steel was driving on the A420 near Tubney at around 6.30am and had drifted into the opposing carriageway. A lorry on the other side of the road took evasive action and crashed head-on with a car being driven by Charlotte Bray.
Steel was taken to hospital and blood was taken. Cocaine and BZE, which is a breakdown of cocaine, were found in his system. The court heard he was three times over the cocaine limit and 16 times over the BZE limit.
Ms Bray suffered a range of injuries including a fractured spine. A victim impact statement was read out on her behalf and described the crash as a 'really terrifying incident.' She added that she had been hospitalised for five days and off work for six weeks as a result.
She said: "Daily life was really challenging, I couldn't sleep for more than two hours at a time due to the pain. "I was very frustrated and depressed. It has been a painful and arduous recovery process."
Ms Bray's statement added that she had experienced nightmares of the crash and that it had created a 'ripple effect of distress'. She said: "He acted with complete disregard for the safety of others." 
In mitigation, the court heard that Steel was now remorseful for his action after initially denying responsibility. Judge Roques said: "Ms Bray was in an impossible position, she had no time to react and the HGV stuck her head-on. "She was transported to hospital and suffered severe and life-changing injuries.
I cannot accept your remorse in the light of the way you have behaved in this case."
As well as the suspended prison sentence, Steel was ordered to complete six months of mental health treatment and 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He will also be electronically tagged for a curfew of 4pm to 6am for nine months and he was banned from the road for four years.
References
- ^ Suspicious man exposes himself to woman near Bicester KFC (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)
- ^ Police reveal aftermath of M40 crash which closed road (www.oxfordmail.co.uk)