Blackpool former soldier 'flipped' and crashed into bus, leaving passenger and driver with injuries

Former QLR soldier Wayne Lea, 42, of Quayle Avenue, Blackpool, drove erratically along Central Drive at high speed and in the wrong lane before he crashed his Volkswagen Caddy into a bus, injuring the driver and his own passenger, on April 27, 2019.

Victim Alireza Alianfar suffered three broken ribs and a hand injury, while bus driver Philip Ince suffered a head wound that needed glueing, bruising and pain to his abdomen and a trapped nerve that made him dizzy.

Adam Lodge, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said Lea's friend - the passenger - had decided to move out of the home they shared due to his unstable behaviour, such as drinking, taking drugs and a concern about privacy.

He added: " The pair had been friends for some time after the defendant provided assistance and a place to live, but at the time of the incident he'd made a decision to move out. He informed him of the decision while they were in the vehicle.

"That caused the defendant to flip. He began to shout and swear and said words to suggest he might crash the car deliberately.

"His driving then became erratic, driving far in excess of the speed limit. He was swerving across the road and overtaking traffic and causing oncoming traffic to brake.

"As he approached the junction with Grasmere Road he continued across a mini roundabout and was in collision with a bus entering the same junction.

Lea admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drinking driving, drug driving and driving without insurance.

In interview he claimed his passenger had been abusive and argumentative and that he panicked and was ashamed of the way in which he had driven.

Judge Simon Medland QC suspended his 16 month jail term for two years and said: " Before all this you were not only of good character, you provided a valuable and valued service in some very dangerous parts of the world with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment between 1995 and 2004.

"Regrettably you have drifted into a life of alcohol and drug use and you have brought yourself to the dreadfully low place in which you are now. Indeed you have lost your good character.

"Your driving was appalling. You had no sense of the applicable speed limit or how to drive safely and you were in built up pedestrianised areas.

" Your life is regrettably a terrible mess at the moment.

"The future however is in your hands."

He was banned for three years and must pass an extended retest and have six month alcohol treatment.