Classical singer’s career ruined by road- rage driver
A CLASSICAL singer’s blossoming career was wrecked by a racing driver who smashed into her.
Alan Thompson, 32, flew into a fury on the way home from a track – and pulled in front of talented Billie Allin.
The soprano, 21, was driving her Vauxhall Corsa when she was “cut up” by Thompson and sent ploughing into railings.
A court heard the classical singer was left with a permanent metal plate in her arm and a four- inch scar and had to pull out of a BBC Proms show.
Billie, who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music in Cardiff, was left being unable to perform as well as before the crash.
She later applied for a postgraduate course at a top music university but says her bid was declined due to her lack of confidence.
Temper
Prosecutor John Philpotts told Swansea Crown Court: “It had affected her sleep and she had nightmares that left her tired during the day. She avoids socialising and travelling long distances on her own.
“She was training to be a classical singer that required singing in different languages and she found following the collision that was much more difficult. She wasn’t able to perform as well as previously, she missed classes, her confidence was damaged. She isn’t the same person she was before.”
The crash took place on the A494 dual carriageway near Queensferry, North Wales, in July 2019. Thompson had been driving a Mercedes Sprinter van towing his BMW racing car home from the Trac Mon Anglesey Circuit after an event. He attempted to overtake Billie but misjudged the speed she was driving in her Corsa in the nearside lane and came up behind her quickly before swerving in front.
The court was told Thompson and his passenger then made “rude gestures” at Billie before his trailer smashed into her car, causing her to veer off the road into railings. He was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a trial.
In a statement, Billie told the court she has lost one job with an events company, split from her partner and couldn’t perform at the BBC Proms. Sentencing, Judge Rhys Rowlands told Thompson: “You lost your temper. You drove aggressively, sounding your horn continuously as you pulled into the offside lane to overtake. You and your passenger were making rude gestures at the victim. You started to pull back in front of her, effectively ‘ cutting her up’ – an aggressive and unnecessary piece of driving.
“You are wholly to blame for the accident and its consequences, with there being absolutely no fault at all on the part of Miss Allin.”
The judge told Thompson, of Wantage, Oxfordshire, he acted “with more than a hint of arrogance”.
He was handed a six- month sentence suspended for two years, disqualified from driving for two years, fined £ 5,000 and must pay £ 2,800 towards prosecution costs.
Investigating officer PC Emma Birrell said: “It is shameful a small number of motorists feel they can behave in a totally reckless manner when they take to the roads.
“People who drive in this manner are taking their lives and the lives of others into their own hands.”