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Teacher guilty of '120mph crash' Teacher guilty of '120mph crash'
(20 minutes later)
A head teacher said to have driven at 120mph before crashing and severely injuring another driver has been found guilty of dangerous driving.A head teacher said to have driven at 120mph before crashing and severely injuring another driver has been found guilty of dangerous driving.
Paul Davies, 51, collided with a car driven by Kelvin Palmer in May 2006 on the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road, leaving him in a wheelchair.Paul Davies, 51, collided with a car driven by Kelvin Palmer in May 2006 on the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road, leaving him in a wheelchair.
Davies, who is head of Cwmdare Primary School, denied dangerous driving at his trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. The head of Cwmdare Primary School had denied dangerous driving.
But he was found guilty be the jury and will be sentenced in three weeks. The judge adjourned sentence at Merthyr Crown Court but said his driving had been "little short of lunatic".
He was given an immediate driving ban by the judge. He was given an immediate driving ban by the judge, who said he had "effectively destroyed" the life of Mr Palmer and his family.
The trial was told Davies' Subaru Impreza collided with Mr Palmer's Ford Fiesta head on, causing the front to "disintegrate". Judge Stephen Hopkins also criticised the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police for making a "pig's ear" of the case, before it eventually came to trial.
Had it not been for the insistence of Mr Palmer, it would not have come to court at all - both the CPS and police made a pig's ear out of it Judge Stephen Hopkins
The jury was told Davies' Subaru Impreza collided with Mr Palmer's Ford Fiesta head on, causing the front to "disintegrate".
Mr Palmer suffered a fractured pelvis, a fractured shoulder, broken ribs, internal abdominal injuries and spine and serious leg injuries.Mr Palmer suffered a fractured pelvis, a fractured shoulder, broken ribs, internal abdominal injuries and spine and serious leg injuries.
Student nurse Emma Able told the jury that she thought Davies had been travelling at "100 to 120 miles an hour".Student nurse Emma Able told the jury that she thought Davies had been travelling at "100 to 120 miles an hour".
But Davies has told the jury he "refuted" claims he had ever driven at that speed.But Davies has told the jury he "refuted" claims he had ever driven at that speed.
He told the court he was driving at 60mph and blamed large amounts of rainwater on the carriageway for the reason he lost control of the car.He told the court he was driving at 60mph and blamed large amounts of rainwater on the carriageway for the reason he lost control of the car.
Character referencesCharacter references
Davies, who has been driving for 35 years, told the court how he had no recollection of the accident itself.Davies, who has been driving for 35 years, told the court how he had no recollection of the accident itself.
"I caused the accident yes, but I don't accept I was driving dangerously," he said."I caused the accident yes, but I don't accept I was driving dangerously," he said.
Bernard Powell, defending, read character references from Davies' friends and colleagues to the court.Bernard Powell, defending, read character references from Davies' friends and colleagues to the court.
Alan Maddox, chairman of the governing body at Cwmdare Primary School, described him as "honest, trustworthy and helpful", while Tony Ashton, whose children are taught at the school, said Davies was "a man of unimpeachable good character".Alan Maddox, chairman of the governing body at Cwmdare Primary School, described him as "honest, trustworthy and helpful", while Tony Ashton, whose children are taught at the school, said Davies was "a man of unimpeachable good character".
Judge Stephen Hopkins, adjourning sentence until 31 May, told Davies that all options were open but he was banned from driving immediately.
Mr Palmer is still unable to return home after the crash
"Your driving on that day was little short of lunatic".
"By virtue of the road traffic conditions and speed it has effectively destroyed the life of Mr Palmer and his family."
The judge said he was "embarrassed" how long the case had taken to come to trial.
"Had it not been for the insistence of Mr Palmer, it would not have come to court at all. Both the CPS and police made a pig's ear out of it."
He went on to say how magistrates at an earlier hearing had discharged the case.
"I think it's outrageous," he said and asked for his views to be passed to the CPS.
'Desperation'
Speaking after the hearing Mr Palmer, 49, said "I'm very very grateful to the jury. They have recognised the truth and I'm grateful they have given a guilty verdict"
He said he was considering making a formal complaint about how the case had been handled by South Wales Police.
Mr Palmer, a father-of-two, said the reason for the case being discharged by the magistrates before Christmas originally had been because of a failure by officers to take a statement from him.
His wife Anne added: "In desperation I wrote to our local MP."
Mr Palmer, who is a business manager, described the last year as "appalling".
He added that despite being released from hospital 10 months after the accident he had still been unable to return home because disabled facilities were not in place and was currently residing in respite care.
He is now considering civil action.