A dad-of-four, who had been planning to drive his car off a cliff in a ‘moment of madness’, smashed into a family car as he sped around a bend. A couple in their 60s were injured in the crash and their three young grandchildren were all left with bruises.
Michael Sutton, 35, had been struggling with his mental health and planned to take his own life, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. Prosecution barrister David Farley told a sentencing hearing that Sutton got behind the wheel of his Ford Transit van at around 4pm on May 15 2021 but lost control on Glossop Road, Charlesworth, High Peak, and veered into the wrong side of the road.
As a result, Sutton’s van smashed head-on into a Citroen C4 being driven by Paul Todd, who was on his way home from a family trip at Knowsley Safari Park, with his wife Elaine and their three grandchildren. Mrs Todd, 63, was most seriously injured - suffering a double fracture to her left shoulder.
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Mr Todd, 61, received an eight inch cut to his forehead and further cuts to his legs. The children suffered seat belt injuries and bruising, and one had a black eye as a result of the crash.
After the collision, Sutton was heard telling a nurse that he had drank five bottles of Budweiser prior to driving. He was taken to hospital for injuries he received but refused to provide a sample for analysis to be tested for alcohol.
Since the incident, Mrs Todd now has trouble completing everyday tasks such as dressing herself, brushing her hair, and looking after her grandchildren. Mr Todd said that his injuries have led to lymphedema.
Sutton, of Fairfield Road, Buxton, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to provide a sample and driving without insurance.
Defending, James Riley told the court that in the months leading up to the incident, Sutton had lost his job as a mechanic and his partner. His dad and grandma had also passed away.
Mr Riley said: “The last straw for him was an issue relating to social services, it appears that this was some sort of breakdown in communication. In a moment of madness, he took the decision to drive his vehicle off a cliff and end his life.”
Mr Riley added that Sutton sent flowers and a card to his victims. “He is greatly affected by his actions,” he said.
Judge Bernadette Baxter branded Sutton ‘selfish’ as she jailed him for 12 months and banned him from driving for two years. She said: “These people are living with the consequences of your selfish actions and will be for a long time to come. I use the word selfish because that’s exactly what it was.
"Instead of facing your responsibilities you got into the car and said that you were driving to a location to kill yourself. Thankfully, you didn’t do that."
Sutton sobbed in the dock as Judge Baxter continued: “You cannot, under the influence of drink, get into a vehicle, drive in this manner, while uninsured, cause this much devastation to other people and not expect to go to custody. Your selfishness was demonstrated again at the hospital when you could have cooperated with police because you knew you’d been drinking and you decided not to.”
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