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22
Mar
Drug-driver who failed to stop after crash in Spofforth avoids jail
A drug-driver who failed to stop at the scene of an accident in Spofforth which saw a three-year-old injured has avoided jail.
Louis Frier, of Coppice Close in Harrogate, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (March 19) for a sentencing hearing.
Frier, 24, admitted drug-driving, drink-driving, driving without due care and failing to stop after an accident on the morning of May 25 last year.
Alison Whiteley, prosecuting, told the court that the 24-year-old was driving a blue Volkswagen Golf towards Harrogate on the A661 Harrogate Road when he “swerved across double white lines at the crest of the hill”.
Ms Whiteley said a named driver in a white Ford Ranger tried to avoid Frier, but was clipped on the front off-side wheel.
She said:
This caused it to spin and collide with a BMW behind Mr Frier.
Ms Whiteley told the court that Frier “continued downhill” before he stopped and “briefly returned to the scene” before leaving.
The named victim in the Ford Ranger was carrying three children in her car, Ms Whiteley added.
A three-year-old child in the car was knocked unconscious and was later found to have a shattered collar bone, the court heard.
A victim’s impact statement read in court by Ms Whiteley said another of the children still had “night terrors” as a result of the crash.
Ms Whiteley added:
[Named victim] said she was in a lot of pain for a good few weeks after the accident. She said it is the only accident that they have been in.
The court heard that Frier was later arrested by police and taken to hospital as the airbag in his car had engaged.
The 24-year-old recorded 91mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood at hospital — the legal limit is 80mg.
He also recorded 297mg of Benzoylecgonine — a by-product of cocaine — in his system. The legal limit is 50mg.
Ms Whiteley said Frier denied in police interview that he had driven carelessly and added that he left the scene of the crash to get a mobile phone signal.
Photographs of the scene of the crash on Harrogate Road were shown in court.
‘A mistake by a very young man’
Brian Nuttney, defending, said Frier had pleaded guilty to the offences at the earliest opportunity and was remorseful for the incident.
Mr Nuttney said the 24-year-old was diagnosed with dyspraxia and “likely autism”.
He said:
He makes poor decisions and he can be easily overwhelmed.
Mr Nuttney said Frier had been at a party the night before, which was “one of the few times he went out with friends”, where he took cocaine for the first time and drank alcohol. He then slept in his car.
The court heard that Frier felt he was fine to drive the following morning.
Mr Nuttney said:
He does not recall the crash, but he does recall stopping. He returned [to the scene] to check if everyone was okay and he went to get a signal.
Mr Nuttney added that Frier was of previous good character, but "had lost his good name" due to the offences.
He said:
It is an isolated incident from which he will learn. It is a mistake by a very, very young man.
Magistrates sentenced Frier to a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
He was ordered to undertake 10 rehabilitation activity days and was banned from driving for 36 months. His licence was also endorsed.
Firer was also ordered to pay a victims’ surcharge of £154 and £85 in court costs.
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