Newport drink-driver seriously injured woman in Risca crash

South Wales Argus

a day ago

Ieuan Bennett, prosecuting, told Newport Crown Court that Kelsey Kent had been drinking since the early afternoon on August 24 last year.
CCTV footage showed him driving to one pub and drinking three pints, before getting back in his car at around 4.19pm and driving to his girlfriend's house.
The court heard that he continued drinking beers at his partner's home, before then driving to another pub at around 9pm – where he had at least another two beers.
Mr Bennett said Kent was 'unsteady on his feet' when he left the pub at around 10pm.
The defendant later told police that he was driving back to his girlfriend's home some two to three miles away, and admitted he was doing 'about 40mph' in the 20mph limit.
The victim, a woman in her eighties, was waiting at the bus stop at around 10.10pm after spending the evening at Risca Workmen's Club.
She was 'thrown up in the air' by the impact, and suffered serious injuries to her legs. The bus stop was completely destroyed by the impact, and there was 'massive damage' to Kent's car.
Kelsey Kent wiped out the bus stop outside Risca Workmens Club. (Image: Google Street View)
Mr Bennett said she 'wouldn't have know what was coming' after Kent drifted across the road onto the pavement after going round a slight bend in the road, and drove along the pavement for 'many many yards before the collision'.
The court heard the victim was taken to Morriston Hospital, where she underwent emergency skin graft surgery.
She suffered serious leg injuries, injuries to her head and bruising to her face, muscle damage to her arm, and was required to wear a boot as her foot was no longer correctly aligned.
In a statement read to the court by Mr Bennett, she said her life had been 'completely changed' by the incident.
'The incident always now plays on my mind,' she said. 'I have nightmares about the incident.
'I feel weak and broken.
'I don't think I realise how lucky I am to be alive.'
Kent remained at the scene. When tested, he recorded having 193 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood – more than twice the legal limit of 80.
The 30-year-old, of Swallow Way in Dyffryn, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink-driving.
The court heard he had two previous convictions for three offences, but had a clean driving record.
Kelsey Kent had been boozing since around 2pm when he decided to drive back from the pub. (Image: Gwent Police) 'Nothing I say on behalf of Mr Kent can undo what he did that day,' said Martha Smith-Higgins, mitigating.
'He knows he must face the consequences.
'This offending has been a wake-up call for him.
'He had taken steps to better himself.'
Mr Smith-Higgins said the defendant was now sober and had voluntarily started attending weekly sessions to address his drinking.
The defendant said it 'broke his heart' to hear the impact his actions had on the victim, she added.
'You had been drinking for many hours in the day when you made that decision to drive that night,' said Judge Celia Hughes.
She added it was 'a wonder' the victim wasn't killed in the crash.
Kent was jailed for two years and 10 months. He was banned from driving for 41 months, and must pass an extended re-test to regain his licence.