A healthcare firm boss nearly killed two young women when he collided head-on with their car while two-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit. Richard Miller, a father of three, was driving at an estimated 60mph when he lost control of his Ford Galaxy on a bend and drove into the path of the victim’s car, according to Nottingham Crown Court proceedings.
The impact of the collision caused the driver to lose consciousness, be cut free from the Ford Focus, and suffer a brain bleed. Her passenger had to crawl from the wreckage after breaking seven ribs and bleeding in her gut.
Recorder Stuart Sprawson sentenced him to 14 months in prison, saying: “Unbeknownst to them, you had been drinking heavily that day and the day before. Sufficient to make driving dangerous, but you chose to drive and your actions were intentional. You took a tremendous risk by completely ignoring the rules of the road.
You elected to take the corner at high speed, crossing the solid, white centre line. It was quite risky.
“The driver was thrown unconscious, and her only memory is of your car climbing her bonnet. Their lives have been significantly impacted by your illicit actions.
Prosecutor Matt Hayes said the crash occurred on Main Road in Ravenshead at around 6.15pm on May 17, last year. He stated that the two women in the Focus, ages 26 and 29, were driving their dog to a training class when the defendant’s automobile swerved into their path and slammed them head-on.
The prosecutor said: “One of the victims estimates his car to be travelling at around 60mph and appeared not to even notice their vehicle or to brake to avoid a collision. The airbags were deployed and the driver was knocked out as the car spun 360 degrees.
“The passenger managed to roll out of the car and recalled feeling a burning sensation like she had been crushed. She then saw the defendant standing behind her and he said ‘all I can say is I am sorry’.
“She asked him if he had been texting or drinking and he said ‘I am sorry, I can’t answer that’.” Mr Hayes said the driver was cut free from the car and the police breathalysed Miller, who blew a reading of 110 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35.
He said at the police station, the defendant then told officers he had a medical reason why he couldn’t give a second, evidential, breath sample, so blood was taken instead. The prosecutor said this gave a reading of 211 milligrams of alcohol, in 100 millilitres of blood when the legal limit is 80. The prosecutor said both women were taken to hospital where the fractured ribs and a bleed to the bowel were found on the passenger and a bleed to the brain on the driver.
In victim impact statements one said she now has to sleep on the sofa with the TV on and that any loud noises remind her of the crash. In hers, the driver said: “I cannot recall much about the crash but remember waking up feeling trapped and this panicked me as this is a feeling I particularly hate.
“I now struggle with basic tasks such as eating and bathing and what happened still haunts me to this day.” Miller, 55, of Springwood View Close, Sutton-in-Ashfield, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink-driving.
He had a previous drink-driving conviction from 2017, for which he served a 10-week jail sentence, was suspended for a year, and was barred from driving for 29 months. Lauren Manuel, mitigating, stated that her client had a career in finance before starting his own business that provided healthcare services and employed 200 people.
She stated that after the incident, the father of three grown-up children has stepped down as managing director and now volunteers for a football team in Southwell as well as the Forestry Commission. Miss Manuel stated that anxieties about the firm caused him to revert to excessive alcohol consumption after times of abstention.
She stated, “He had several pints of cider and drove home without thinking, which he profoundly regrets and has done ever since. He instantly apologised, remained at the site, and cooperated with the authorities.
“Six days after the incident he attempted to take his own life but fortunately his wife found him.” In addition to the jail term, Recorder Sprawson prohibited the offender from driving for five years and seven months.
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