Audi driver from Stokesley ploughed into car in Darlington

Kazie Lee’s Audi struck the back of the victim’s Suzuki Ignis, which had only reached about 15-mph after the lights changed to green on St Cuthbert’s Way, Darlington, late on June 3, 2023.

Teesside Crown Court was told the Suzuki was briefly thrown into the air and came to rest in the next lane, with the victim, who was travelling home from work, thrust into the rear of her car.

She was later to say she saw two bright lights approaching in her rear-view mirror just before the collision, which left her car a write-off.

Despite suffering great pain, she managed to clamber back into the driver’s seat to try to alight the car.

A witness, who went to her aid, said he saw the defendant’s car travelling at about 30mph and making no attempt to brake or stop before the collision.

Lee told police his brakes had failed.

He also tested positive for cocaine in his system in a roadside test, but at a level less than the legal limit for driving.

The 30-year-old, of Oak Tree Road in Stokesley, was initially charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and pleaded not guilty on the basis his brakes failed and that he was not driving at excessive speed.

Once it was established it was not a brake failure, his guilty plea to the slightly lesser charge of causing serious injury by careless driving was accepted by the prosecution several months later.

The victim, who recalled the defendant asking how she was, said she had no recollection of the incident after that.

She was left in great pain with a broken wrist and needed a metal plate and pins inserted.

She also suffered whiplash and other cuts and bruises.

In two impact statements read to the court she outlined the effect the injury had on her with the loss of mobility in the short-term, but also mentally in the longer term.

She said she was nervous about driving again and when she did, she would not use St Cuthbert’s Way for some time after the accident and, also, avoided other busy higher-speed roads, preferring quieter back roads.

In her most recent updated statement, she said she does not yet have full-strength back in her wrist, despite having undergone physiotherapy, and it had affected her work, at first through sickness leave, and then due to a reduction in her duties, affecting her financially.

Paul Abrahams, for Lee, said this was his first conviction.

Mr Abrahams said: “He acknowledges the impact it’s had on her life.

“I can only apologise on behalf of the defendant.”

Mr Abrahams added that Lee, who has some mental health issues of his own, has been out of work but hopes to regain employment.

Judge Amanda Rippon said the witness described the defendant appearing to make no effort to swerve or brake before his Audi hit the back of the Suzuki.

“I could tell by your reaction in court that you are ashamed of what you have done.

“The impact on the victim has been substantial, mentally, physically and financially.

“There’s nothing I can do to put her back to where she was before you hit her car.

“I accept you didn’t intent to cause the damage or injuries that you did.

“You have said the harm inflicted has had a profound effect on you and you think about it every day.”

The judge accepted a probation assessment that the defendant poses a low risk of re-offending or causing further harm.

She, therefore, imposed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, during which Lee must attend five rehabilitation activity sessions and perform 100 hours’ unpaid work.

Judge Rippon also imposed a 12-month driving disqualification on the defendant.

He must pass an extended re-test to lawfully drive in future.

Judge Rippon told Lee: “I have given you a chance today.

“If you don’t take it, there isn’t a second one.”

The judge added that the victim strikes her as a woman with, “inordinate mental strength”.