A father of four who had been drink driving intended to drive his car off a cliff in a 'moment of madness' but instead crashed into a family car as he dangerously sped round a bend. Inside the car, were three young children who were all left with bruises and their grandparents who also suffered some injuries, Manchester Evening News reports.
Michael Sutton, 35, had been feeling low and had planned to commit suicide, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. Prosecutor barrister, David Farley told a sentencing hearing how Sutton set off at about 4pm on May 15 2021 but lost control of his Ford Transit van on Glossop Road, Charlesworth, High Peak and ended up swerving onto the opposite side of the road.
Consequently, Sutton's van crashed directly into Paul Todd, 63 who was driving home his wife Elaine, 63 and their grandkids in their Citroen C4 after a day out at Knowsley safari park. Mrs Todd suffered the most severe injury out of all the passengers and was left with a double fracture to her shoulder.
Mr Todd, 61, received an eight inch cut to his forehead and further cuts to his legs. The children suffered seat belt injuries and bruising, and one had a black eye as a result of the crash.
After the collision, Sutton was heard telling a nurse that he had drank five bottles of Budweiser prior to driving. He was taken to hospital for injuries he received but refused to provide a sample for analysis to be tested for alcohol.
Since the incident, Mrs Todd now has trouble completing everyday tasks such as dressing herself, brushing her hair, and looking after her grandchildren. Mr Todd said that his injuries have led to lymphedema.
Sutton, of Fairfield Road, Buxton , pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to provide a sample and driving without insurance.
Defending, James Riley told the court that in the months leading up to the incident, Sutton had lost his job as a mechanic and his partner. His dad and grandma had also passed away.
Mr Riley said: “The last straw for him was an issue relating to social services, it appears that this was some sort of breakdown in communication. In a moment of madness, he took the decision to drive his vehicle off a cliff and end his life.”
Mr Riley added that Sutton sent flowers and a card to his victims. “He is greatly affected by his actions,” he said.
Judge Bernadette Baxter branded Sutton ‘selfish’ as she jailed him for 12 months and banned him from driving for two years. She said: “These people are living with the consequences of your selfish actions and will be for a long time to come.
“I use the word selfish because that’s exactly what it was. Instead of facing your responsibilities you got into the car and said that you were driving to a location to kill yourself. Thankfully, you didn’t do that.”
Sutton sobbed in the dock as Judge Baxter continued: “You cannot, under the influence of drink, get into a vehicle, drive in this manner, while uninsured, cause this much devastation to other people and not expect to go to custody. Your selfishness was demonstrated again at the hospital when you could have cooperated with police because you knew you’d been drinking and you decided not to.”
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
