A driver who got behind the wheel of his Audi after drinking has admitted causing serious injury to a woman on a main road in Cardiff.
Stefan Ulchianu was found to have 110 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath following the collision, which left Abeer Bilal with significant injuries.
Speaking via Skype during the Cardiff Crown Court hearing, Judge David Wynn Morgan said it would be “wholly inappropriate” for a judge to pass sentence remotely.
Emergency services were called to the incident on Newport Road in Cardiff on April 10 last year.
Ulchianu, 28, from Brynsifi Way in Swansea, initially denied responsibility and his case was listed for trial, but he entered guilty pleas during a hearing on Friday, June 5.
The defendant – who was driving an Audi A1 at the time – admitted drink driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop following the collision.
He was represented by Heath Edwards during the plea hearing, while Owen Williams appeared for the prosecution.
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The court heard there is a compilation of CCTV footage lasting for around 20 minutes, which the sentencing judge will need to be able to watch.
Mr Williams said much of the footage shows Ulchianu visiting bars and restaurants.
Judge Wynn Morgan said he also needed more time to sentence than was allowed on Friday, with the hearing expected to last for an hour and a half.
Mr Edwards asked for his client’s bail to continue as before, but the judge said circumstances had changed due to the guilty pleas and warned the defendant a prison sentence was “inevitable”.
He said he would renew bail “with a degree of reluctance” and with conditions, such as requiring Ulchianu to surrender his passport.
Judge Wynn Morgan adjourned the case for seven days to Friday, June 12.
