A man who caused a very serious collision which left a woman with life-changing injuries has been jailed for 38 months.
Stephen Anning, aged 45 of Corfe Mullen, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 23 June after pleading guilty at the same court in March to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The court heard Anning was driving a blue MG ZT when it was involved in a head-on collision with a blue Vauxhall Corsa on Blandford Road alongside the Windgreen Service Station at Corfe Mullen just before 8am on Tuesday 23 April 2013.
Anning used the service road as a short cut and witnesses described seeing his vehicle travelling at speed.
The driver of the Corsa, a 55-year-old Poole woman, suffered a serious brain injury which has resulted in paralysis to one side of her face and permanent loss of smell and taste. She remained in a critical condition in hospital for a number of weeks and is still receiving medical assistance for her life-changing injuries.
Sergeant Stuart Pitman, of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: “I am very pleased the judge has taken the entire situation into account when applying this wholly justified custodial sentence.
“Having worked on this investigation over the last 12 months I have seen the devastating impact this has had on the family who continue to need close medical assistance. The impact on the local community of Corfe Mullen was immense.
“I hope this sentence sends out a very clear message that such driving will not be tolerated and the consequences are clear for all to see.”
