A MAN from Abergele who hospitalised a pedestrian following a crash in the town has been handed a community order.

Andrew Leigh, 60, of Towyn Road, was ordered to complete 200 hours’ unpaid work within the next year, and was disqualified from driving for the same time period, at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court today (February 19).

He had previously admitted a charge of causing serious injury by careless/inconsiderate driving.

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Prosecuting, Rachael Drew told the court that, on November 30, 2022, Leigh was driving his Chrysler vehicle on the A548 in the direction of Towyn when he hit Stephen Halliwood in a “momentary lapse in focus”.

Members of the public stopped to administer first aid to Mr Halliwood, a man in his 60s, before he was transferred to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.

He suffered serious injuries, including three broken toes, a broken left fibula, three cracked ribs, and a skull fracture.

Mr Halliwood spent 23 days at Glan Clwyd, during which time he also had to be given a tracheostomy (a procedure to help air and oxygen reach the lungs).

In a statement, he said it took six months to regain mobility and to be able to walk his dog again, but is still “much more housebound than previously”.

He added that that he suffers flashbacks, and his marriage has broken down since the crash as he has been “physically and emotionally unhappy”.

Defending Leigh, a man of previous good character with no points on his driving licence, Ian Bridge said his client is “ashamed” of and “very upset” by his actions that day.

Leigh’s probation report was described as “excellent” by Mr Bridge, who stressed that he was not breaking the speed limit or driving recklessly.

Indeed, Mr Bridge said that it is a “tragic conjunction of circumstances which has brought my client, for the first time ever, before court”.

Chairperson Darren Campbell, sentencing Leigh, told him: “It’s very sad to see you standing in the dock, as a man of previous good character.

“This was a tragic event. Your momentary lapse in concentration caused devastating physical and psychological harm to Mr Halliwood.”

Mr Campbell, who noted Leigh’s “obvious and genuine remorse”, also ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.