(Image: Durham Constabulary)
A banned drug driver trying to escape police lost control and crashed into two vehicles, seriously injuring one driver.
Darren Bleasdale was trapped in his Volkswagen Polo with two broken legs, while a female passenger also suffered fractures in the crash on Lord Byron’s Walk, Seaham, on August 12.
Bleasdale ignored a police stop request and sped at up to 98mph in 60mph zones and 51mph in 30mph areas, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Nicci Horton said Bleasdale twice drove the wrong way around roundabouts, ran a red light and drove along the middle of the road.
Darren Bleasdale received a total 46-month prison sentence for dangerous driving and drug supply offences in Murton and Seaham
The driver of the second vehicle into which Bleasdale crashed, a Peugeot Boxer van, suffered a spinal fracture that left him with mobility problems.
In a victim statement read to the court, he said the crash had “turned my life upside down, all because of someone’s foolish actions in a car.”
He is the main carer for his disabled wife but can no longer manage many household jobs, leaving him reliant on friends and relatives.
Miss Horton said due to the pain he has been left unable to drive, despite having a replacement mobility vehicle.
Bleasdale, 28, of James Street South, Murton, appeared by video link from Holme House Prison, in Stockton, having previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.
Miss Horton said he also tested positive for cannabis and cocaine in his system, with the results only recently becoming available.
The court heard he was banned from driving as part of a 36-week sentence suspended for a year, imposed for dangerous driving in January.
Bleasdale also admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply and being concerned in supplying the Class B drug in 2023 and 2024.
Michael Forrest, for Bleasdale, told the court he was “under no illusion” he would receive an immediate prison sentence.
He said Bleasdale was “remorseful, regretful and ashamed” about the incident and its effect on others and wanted to apologise.
Mr Forrest said he opted to be housed on a drug-free wing in prison in an effort to end his daily cannabis habit, which he said was the cause of his problems.
He became involved in low-level cannabis dealing to pay off a £2,000 debt linked to his own use of the drug.
Judge Deborah Sherwin said Bleasdale’s prolonged and persistent bad driving culminated in the crash, which had “a devastating effect” on the van driver.
She said Bleasdale seemed to have “made very little effort” to comply with the terms of the suspended sentence order imposed in January.
Judge Sherwin imposed a total 46-month prison sentence, including eight months activated from January's suspended sentence order.
She also banned the defendant from driving for 59 months and he must pass an extended driving test to lawfully take to the road in future.
A forfeiture order was made for the cash seized from Bleasdale on arrest for the drugs matters and forfeiture and destruction orders were made for drugs recovered from him.