Woman left in intensive care by 'show-off' learner driver

A TEENAGE learner driver was "showing off" to his mates when he slammed head-on into an oncoming car leaving his victim in intensive care.

- JASON EVANS

And, while on police bail for that offence, Tyrone Walsh led officers on a late-night pursuit - continuing to drive away even after his car’s tyres had been punctured and were running on the wheel rims.

Swansea Crown Court heard that by his own admission 18-year-old Walsh has been involved in criminality since an early age, although he has only one previous conviction.

Earlier this year the defendant was the victim of a kidnapping after being accused of stealing a quadbike in a case of mistaken identity.

Megan Williams, prosecuting, told the court the first piece of dangerous driving took place on the night of May 20 on the A4062 in Bridgend county. She said the teenager was seen driving his Vauxhall Corsa erratically and to be tailgating other cars, swerving across the carriageway, and overtaking vehicles on bends.

The court heard the driving culminated in a serious head-on crash which saw Walsh slamming into an oncoming car while driving on the wrong side of the road.

The driver of the other car was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where medics found she had a partially collapsed lung, abnormally low blood pressure and six broken ribs.