Drink driver avoids jail after crash left him in a coma

His brother was thrown through the windscreen and a young woman passenger left close to death when disaster struck in Birmingham Road, Stourbridge.

The vehicle - recently bought by the girlfriend of his father - had a potentially dangerous suspension fault the 29-year-old knew nothing of when he illegally took the motor, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Mr Edward Soulsby, prosecuting, explained that the defendant, who lost control on a bend at speed, was unconscious and had a weak pulse when rescuers reached the scene. A sample taken later from his body gave a reading of 94 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Miss Brittany Platt, the girlfriend of the defendant's brother, broke her back in four places as well as suffering head injuries, punctures to both lungs, a broken her pelvis and permanent facial scarring. She was under critical care for two weeks and spent 16 weeks in hospital, the court was told.

Evitts had multiple rib fractures, lacerated liver together with a serious brain injury and was kept in an induced coma for two weeks after the March 25 accident.

The injuries suffered by his brother were not given to the court but Miss Platt described her suffering in a victim impact statement in which she revealed she was still on crutches months later.

She continued: "I hate the scar on my face and try to avoid looking in mirrors. I only smile on one side of my mouth because of nerve damage and have short term memory loss.

"I was an outgoing girl with lots of friends and now I have none because I only go out occasionally now with my mum. I just want to be normal and have my friends back but I know that will never happen."

Mr Oliver Woolhouse, defending, said the suspension fault could have been one of the reasons why Evitts lost control. The lawyer continued: "He remembers nothing of what happened but lives with the guilt, shame and remorse of knowing he was responsible."

The defendant is making a good physical recovery but, nine months after the accident, still has major problems from the brain injury. He now receives disability living allowance and is cared for by his grandmother and Mr Woolhouse concluded; "It will be a very slow road to recovery, it if ever comes."

Evitts from Wesley Avenue, Halesowen pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking causing injury, drink driving and having neither insurance nor a driving licence.

Recorder Abigail Nixon told him: "Without the injuries you suffered you would be going straight to prison and you would no doubt swop a prison sentence for those injuries. You have now got to live with what you have done to yourself, Brittany and a member of your family. Your injuries have had a huge effect on you."

Evitts received a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years with a three month night time curfew and was banned from driving for 12 months.