Dad-of-two fled from head-on crash he caused in one-way street as he was 'frightened'

A father-of-two drove off after causing a head-on crash into another car while going the wrong way down a one-way street. Derby Crown Court heard how Billy Loades “was frightened” after causing the smash and that is why he chose to leave the scene.

But the self-employed telecoms engineer later admitted he was the person responsible for causing the accident when his car was identified and he was written to. Judge Shaun Smith KC asked the defendant’s barrister, Denney Lau: “What was he playing at?”

The barrister replied: “He was meeting a friend in Chesterfield and was confused about the road layout on that occasion.”

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The judge asked: “Why did he drive off?” Mr Lau replied: “He was frightened.”

Judge Smith said: “What is he doing now?” The barrister replied: “He works as a self-employed telecoms engineer and he is a family man.

“He lives with his partner, who attends court, and he has two children aged seven and four from a previous relationship.”

Handing the 27-year-old a 10-month jail sentence, suspended for 15 months, Judge Smith said: “You are a man of previous good character and I don’t suppose you ever thought you would end up in a crown court, certainly not for anything as serious as this. You are not from the area and although what you did was extremely serious, I accept there was an element of unfamiliarity.

“You are 27-year-old, you have children, you are in a relationship and you have a job. I am not going to send you to prison as it seems counter-productive to do that.

“But your position is aggravated because you drove off.” Paul Stimson, prosecuting, said the incident took place in Brimington, Chesterfield, on April 26, this year.

He said: “At around 8.40pm the victim was driving his Mercedes and had just passed the Jet garage and turned into the one-way system at Manor Road and was met by the defendant’s car coming towards him the wrong way. There was a collision and he drove off from the scene.”

Loades, of Longfields Crescent, Hoyland, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and failing to stop following an accident. As part of the suspended sentence order, the judge ordered the defendant to carry out 200 hours unpaid work. He also disqualified him from driving for a year.