PREGNANT WOMAN’S CAR SPUN AS IT WAS HIT BY DRUG-DRIVER

Motorist, 27, had no insurance to cover damage caused by crash

DRUG-DRIVER Max Tunstall crashed his car into a vehicle being driven by a pregnant woman.

The victim’s car was ‘spun around’ when it was hit by the 27-yearold, who was driving his mother’s Vauxhall Tigra. The female driver, who was eight months pregnant, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Magistrates heard Tunstall, below, was over the limit for the cocaine derivative BZE following the incident in Lightwood – and did not have insurance for the car.

Prosecutor Simon Dykes said: “At 7pm, a lady was driving back to her home address after visiting the Co-op. She was eight months into her pregnancy.

“As she reached the crossroads of Fir Tree

Road and Woodpark Lane, in Lightwood Road, a blue

Tigra pulled out of Woodpark Lane and collided with her. It spun her vehicle around and pushed it into Fir Tree Road. There was significant damage to the vehicle.

“A witness who saw the collision said he saw the Tigra driving at some speed. He called the police and went to assist. There was a concern that the defendant was affected by substances.” The court heard police arrived and conducted a roadside drug swipe which was positive for cocaine. A blood test then confirmed Tunstall was over the limit.

The victim had bruising to her shoulder and abdomen, and a swollen wrist. Tunstall, of Barbrook Avenue, Longton, told police his brakes had failed.

Peter Howland, mitigating, said: “Mr Tunstall was very apologetic and genuinely upset at the scene.

“He had taken cocaine on Sunday and this was the Tuesday. He felt perfectly okay to drive. The reason he wasn’t insured was he was paying for fully comprehensive insurance on his own vehicle.

“He believed he therefore had third party insurance to drive another

vehicle with the owner’s consent, but it would appear this was not the case with this policy. “He has some qualifications as a forklift driver and a mechanic. He finished work in July and is living with his mum and dad, and has debts in excess of £9,000.”

Magistrates fined Tunstall £240 and ordered him to pay £800 in compensation to the female driver to cover her insurance excess. He must also pay £169 in court costs and charges and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Phil Taylor, chairman of the bench at North Staffordshire Justice Centre told Tunstall: “But for the grace of God the lady involved got away with slight injuries. The outcome for her – and therefore for you – could have been significantly worse.”