Dorset drink and drug driver jailed for causing serious crash

A Dorset drink and drug driver has been jailed for causing an accident that seriously injured his passenger

Author: Maria GreenwoodPublished 1st Sep 2021

A drink and drug driver who caused a serious injury collision in Corfe Mullen has been jailed.

John Albert Bond, aged 25 and of Coldharbour, Wareham, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to be sentenced on Friday 27 August 2021 after admitting offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through alcohol and driving whilst unfit through drugs.

He was sentenced to a total of two years and nine months in prison and disqualified from driving for two and a half years, with the ban due to begin when he is released from prison.

Dorset Police received a report at 11.49pm on Monday 20 July 2020 in relation to a single vehicle collision on Waterloo Road, near to the junction with Chapel Lane.

The vehicle involved was a Nissan X-Trail driven by the defendant, which was reported to have mounted the kerb, before travelling 20 to 30 metres along the verge and entering a ditch, where it collided with a tree.

Emergency services attended and Bond and his passenger – a Wimborne man aged in his 20s – were taken to hospital for treatment. While Bond was in hospital his blood was taken for analysis.

Drink and drugs

There was found to be alcohol present at a rate of 107 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrammes per 100 millilitres of blood.

Bond was also found to have Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – a psychoactive constituent of cannabis – present in his blood at a concentration of at least five micrograms per litre of blood. The specified limit is two micrograms per litre. The analysis also revealed benzoylecgonine – a metabolite of cocaine – present at 372 micrograms per litre, more than seven times the specified limit of 50 micrograms per litre.

Bond’s passenger sustained a fracture to a bone in his back as a result of the collision, as well as grazing and bruising.

Police Constable Mike Burt, of the traffic unit, said:

“John Bond’s reckless actions on the night of Monday 20 July 2020 put himself, his passenger and other road users at serious risk and the injuries sustained by his passenger have had a lasting impact.

“I hope this case sends a clear message to those thinking of driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs that there can be extremely serious consequences and we will do all we can to ensure those responsible are brought before the courts to face the repercussions.”

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