July 11, 2019 4.13 pm This story is over 56 months old

Banned driver hid in a ditch after causing crash

He avoided being sent to jail

Lincoln Crown Court | Photo: Emily Norton

A banned driver who caused a crash ran from the scene and hid in a field, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Ionut Avram overtook two vehicles at high speed before colliding with a Smart car as he drove along Horncastle Road, Boston at 8 am on April 17.

David Webster, prosecuting, said that Avram was described by one witness as driving so fast that the wheels of his car were off the ground.

As he approached a bend at Richardson’s Bridge near to Boston Golf Club, Avram attempted to overtake again but found himself confronted by oncoming traffic.

Mr Webster told the court: “The defendant collided with the rear of Andrew Bontoft’s Smart car pushing it into the barrier on the bridge.

“Mr Bontoft’s car was written off. The airbag activated in his vehicle and Mr Bontoft was not seriously injured. He was able to get out of his car and he shouted at the driver of the other vehicle ‘What the hell are you doing?’

“Mr Avram’s response was to say nothing in reply but to make off behind a farm building and across fields. Police officers came to the scene and found Avram concealing himself in a ditch.”

Avram failed a breath test with the result being 47mgs of alcohol per 100mls of breath compared to the legal limit of 35mgs.

The court was told he had been banned from driving for six months under the totting up system in February of this year.

Avram, 21, of Horace Street, Boston, admitted charges of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop after a road traffic accident as a result of the incident on April 17 this year.

He was given an eight month jail sentence suspended for 18 months with 100 hours of unpaid work and a three month night-time curfew. He was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to pass an extended re-test before he can drive again.

Sunil Khanna, in mitigation, said Avram had spent the previous evening at a barbeque.

“Whilst cutting some wood he injured himself by cutting his hand. He didn’t realise how serious it was until the next morning and then decided he was going to the hospital.

“Normally his uncle drove the car but he decided rather stupidly that he would drive himself to the hospital. He drove wholly inappropriately for the conditions. He misjudged the bend. He simply lost control of the vehicle. He accepts full responsibility for the collision.”