Man crashed mum's car into tree and fled scene leaving passenger with broken leg

Liam Conn, 30, crashed his mum’s Vauxhall Astra into a tree in The Drive in Usworth, Washington, at 10.30pm – and ran off.

He left behind a passenger who suffered a fractured leg and dislocated hip and spent a fortnight in hospital after the smash on Thursday, October 22.

Jobless Conn, of London Avenue, Donwell, Washington, phoned police the next day and confessed to his crimes, magistrates in South Tyneside heard.

Although he admitted to consuming booze, he claimed he had not been over the limit and was not charged with drink-driving.

Magistrates sentenced him to an 18-month community order – and told him he had come “very close” to being jailed.

Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said: “Police attended a road traffic accident. One person was being treated by paramedics.

“The car’s registered keeper was the defendant’s mum. She had given him the car to scrap for her.”

The prosecutor said that Conn fled the area and ‘left another passenger at the scene’.

He added: “The injured man suffered a fractured leg and a dislocated hip, and was in hospital for two weeks.

“The passenger said that he couldn’t remember much as he was drunk.”

Alaister Naismith, defending, said: “It was a mistake to take the car uninsured and to have had a drink.

“He would say not enough to be over the limit, but it could be aggravating.

“He also ended up going to hospital for injuries, he was left with a significant head injury. It was not a conscious decision to leave the scene.”

Conn pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, driving without due care and attention, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

The community order requires him to undertake 20 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service.

He must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work and take part in the Thinking Skills programme.

Conn was banned from driving for 12 months and must pay a £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

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