Show-off learner driver left woman in intensive care

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 Court and crime reporter

While on police bail for that offending 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 though 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 this year on the A4062 in Bridgend County.

She said the teenager was seen driving his Vauxhall Corsa erratically along the road and to be tailgating other cars, swerving across the carriageway, and overtaking vehicles on bends.

The court heard that 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.

The casualty was taken to the intensive care unit where she spent the next nine days.

Meanwhile Walsh had been arrested at the scene and a breath test showed he had 42mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mg - and a roadside drug test showed the presence of cannabis in his system.