8:36am Thursday 29th July 2010
By Julie Magee
A DRUNK driver who walked off after causing “catastrophic injuries” to a motorcyclist and leaving passers-by to come to his aid has been jailed for three and a half years.
David Whittaker was already banned from the road when he got behind the wheel of his works van on October 23 last year, having drunk “a couple of pints of beer” at his local pub and downing double vodkas in his caravan.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Whittaker, 39, who lived and worked at Parkdean holiday park in Sandford, had been “angry” after phone calls with his partner concerning the break-up of their relationship.
Whittaker admitted causing father-of-three Sam Fairbrother grievous bodily harm, two counts of driving while disqualified, two counts of aggravated vehicle taking and driving with excess alcohol.
He also pleaded guilty to having no insurance, failing to stop and failing to report the accident.
Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott said tragedy had struck after Whittaker used a works vehicle for the second time in an hour.
Mr Fairbrother, 36, was on his way home from work to his family in Chalbury near Horton when the crash happened at Sandford.
“He was aware of lights coming towards him on his side of the road. He went to pull out and as he got closer the vehicle suddenly turned to face him,” said Mr Ellacott.
“The van sped up, Mr Fairbrother tried to get out of the way but he couldn’t and there was a huge collision. He was thrown through the air and hit the ground face-down.”
As witnesses rushed to tend to Mr Fairbrother, Whittaker walked away, hailing a taxi and telling the driver: “My mate was knocked off his bike and he’s a goner.”
Whittaker was arrested nearby and found to be nearly twice the legal drink-drive alcohol limit. He denied being responsible for the crash until January 27 this year.
Mr Ellacott said Mr Fairbrother had suffered “catastrophic injuries” which had left him a paraplegic and in hospital for seven-and-a-half months.
Defending Whittaker, James Newton-Price said: “He holds his hands up and accepts he is responsible for causing extremely serious injuries to Mr Fairbrother. He has had an alcohol problem for some 20 years.”
He told the court Whittaker was “depressed by his failing relationship”, adding: “Any apology from him is no consolation to the victim or his family.”
Sentencing Whittaker, Judge Samuel Wiggs told him: “You devastated the life not only of Mr Fairbrother but of his wife and three young children. You were angry that night – the person who felt the brunt of all that was Mr Fairbrother.
“It is almost impossible to imagine worse injuries in somebody who survives.”
Whittaker was banned from driving for six years.
Now read Sam's wife Kerry-Ann's moving story...
8:32am Thursday 29th July 2010
DAVID Whittaker is likely to walk out of prison in 21 months time after serving half of his three-and-a-half year sentence.
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