A drug-driver knocked a grandfather off his feet in his living room and caused around £90,000 of damage after crashing a transit van into a house. Arron Straughair had a breakdown product of cocaine in his system when he smashed through a window and badly damaged a wall at the property in Lilywhite Terrace, Easington Lane, Sunderland, in February.
Family Forced to Leave Home
Newcastle Crown Court heard the couple who lived there were forced to move out while repairs were carried out. The court was told their granddaughter would normally play near the window of the room that the vehicle smashed into, and they have been left traumatised by the thought of what could have happened.
Prosecutor Jasmine Dodd told the court the man had been downstairs while his partner and granddaughter were upstairs when the crash happened. Miss Dodd said he was "knocked off his feet" and added: "When he stood back up he saw a large hole in the front of the house, where his front window used to be.
"He could see the defendant, lying on the floor motionless and an overturned Transit van." The court heard when police arrived the family were told they had to leave due to the risk of the potential collapse of the front of the house.
Impact on the Family
The man was taken to hospital with a cut to his leg, high blood pressure and persistent cough. He said in an impact statement he is plagued with flashbacks when he goes back to the house and added: "The corner of the room that was hit is where my young granddaughter usually plays. Things could have been so different.
"My chest has never been the same since that night, I continue to cough."
His wife said in her statement their home of 40 years is "forever tarnished" by what happened that night and added: "My granddaughter plays in the corner where the van has come though. I can't stop thinking about what-ifs and what could have happened. The table where we spend time as a family was moved across the room. If someone had been sitting or standing there at the time they would have been killed."
Sentence and Background
Straughair, 36, of Brickgarth, Easington Lane, was hospitalised with serious injuries after the crash. He later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, drug driving and having no insurance and was sentenced to 16 months, suspended for two years, with probation requirements and a four-year road ban.
Recorder Georgina Nolan said "lives are shattered every single day" due to bad drivers but added that Straughair has responsibilities and a good prospect of rehabilitation.
Andrew Walker, defending, said Straughair's speed before the crash was inappropriate for the road and the weather conditions. Mr Walker said although seriously injured himself, Straughair's primary concern was for the potential harm caused to the people in the property.
The court heard Straughair works on a building site, has family commitments and has been out of trouble for more than five years.
