Jail for learner driver from Darlaston who caused 'horrific' crash

Leighton Doughty, 29, ignored a plea by his friend Lee Butler, a front-seat passenger, to slow down as he hit speeds of 60-70mph through Bilston, a court heard.

The father-of-four lost control of the car after overtaking a vehicle, mounting the kerb and smashing into a factory. Both men suffered 'life-changing' injuries, while a back-seat passenger escaped with minor injuries.

Doughty later lied to police, claiming Mr Butler was supervising him on the journey and that the L-plates must have fallen off.

Judge Francis Laird, QC, told him: "You did not think the law applied to you. In my judgement, despite your injury, the court must pass a sentence of imprisonment."

Doughty of Dangerfield Lane, Darlaston, had gone for a drink with two workmates after finishing work on a building site on April 20 last year and later offered them a lift home, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

Mr Ravi Sidhu, prosecuting, said both Mr Butler and back-seat passenger Jake Adams were totally unaware that Doughty did not have a full driving licence. He had downed between two and four pints of lager but claimed to have drunk only Coke.

Mr Butler told police he was 'sliding all over the place' in the car and saw that Doughty was doing 60-70mph. He told him to slow down but was ignored. Instead Doughty drove through amber lights and overtook a car, accelerating as he did so, but then lost control and crashed into factory doors in Millfields Road.

An inspection revealed the back tyres were so badly worn the steel cord was showing through the rubber. Doughty claimed he lost control because of a tyre blow-out but the police said there was no evidence of that.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Butler, who broke a leg, wrist and his chest bone, said the crash had left him with a limp and unable to return to his job as a bricklayer. He had lost £15,000 in wages and was prone to depression.

The court heard that Doughty had previously notched up other driving offences, including driving without a licence, insurance and failing to give information about the identity of a driver.

Defending Mr Simon Cooper, said Doughty had tried to pass his driving test but failed the theory exam twice. A former welder, he was tempted into driving after launching a second-hand car business.

"The crash was horrific and the injuries caused to Mr Butler and Mr Doughty were life-changing. He is wholly aware of the devastating consequences his actions have had," said Mr Cooper.

Doughty, who spent five weeks in hospital,10 days in an induced coma, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was sentenced to 21 months in prison and banned from driving for three years 10 months.