This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/6709311.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
'Lunatic' driver to be sentenced 'Boy racer' head teacher jailed
(about 8 hours later)
A head teacher found guilty of dangerous driving after a collision left another driver in a wheelchair, is due to be sentenced. A head teacher convicted of dangerous driving after a crash which left another driver in a wheelchair, has been jailed for 15 months.
Paul Davies, 51, was said to have driven at 120mph, colliding with a car driven by Kelvin Palmer on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road in May 2006. Paul Davies, 51, was said to have driven at 120mph, when he hit head-on a car driven by Kelvin Palmer on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road in May 2006.
At his trial, the judge at Merthyr Crown Court described Davies's driving as "little short of lunatic". "Fifty one you may have been but you drove...with the mentality of a boy racer," Judge Stephen Hopkins said.
The head of Cwmdare Primary School will be sentenced at Newport Crown Court. Newport Crown Court heard he would lose his job at Cwmdare Primary School.
Davies had denied dangerous driving at the trial and denied the claim that he had driven at 120mph (200kmph). A witness at Davies' trial at Merthyr Crown Court had described how he had driven past her at a speed of 120mph (200kmph) in his Subaru Impreza before the collision in wet and windy driving conditions.
At the end of his trial in May, Davies was given an immediate driving ban by Judge Stephen Hopkins, who also told him he had "effectively destroyed" the life of Mr Palmer and his family. He's been told to serve seven and a half months, but I've had 10 months in hospital alone Kelvin Palmer
A jury had heard how Davies's Subura Impreza collided head on with Mr Palmer's Ford Fiesta in wet and windy conditions. Judge Hopkins told Davies he had "effectively destroyed" the life of Mr Palmer and his family, at the end of the trial in May.
Flipped over Mr Palmer's car flipped over in the crash, ending up on its roof down an embankment.
Witness Emma Able had told the court she thought Davies had been travelling at "100 to 120 mile an hour" before the collision which involved a total of four cars. The father-of-two was trapped upside down and remained in hospital for 10 months recovering from multiple injuries.
Mr Palmer's car flipped over and ended up roof down on an embankment. He is still being cared for in respite care 30 miles away from his home.
The father-to-two was trapped upside down. Sentencing Davies on Friday, the judge said it was the "deadly combination" of excessive speed and poor weather conditions which led to the crash.
He suffered a fractured pelvis, a fractured shoulder, broken ribs, internal abdominal injuries and spine and serious leg injuries in the crash and was in hospital for 10 months. "I believe the car and its decoration gives a clue to your real character and sheds light on why you drove it as you did on the day of the accident," said Judge Hopkins.
Respite care He told Davies: "In my view it was dangerous. In my judgement, it was lunatic".
He is still being cared for in respite care 30 miles away from his family because disabled facilities were not in place. Mr Palmer was in hospital for 10 months after the crash
The judge said when Davies tried to brake in his four-wheel-drive car at such speed, he skidded across the lanes and into oncoming traffic.
"The degree of danger is demonstrated by what happened next," he said.
"Your car hit head on a Fiesta being driven by Kelvin Palmer. So substantial was the impact the engine and gear box shot out of the car like a missile and hit the car behind.
"Having hit a car, the engine and gear box cannoned off that and into the path of another car."
The judge said that Davies suffered minor injuries and another driver involved suffered a fractured arm.
Part-time father
Mr Palmer, said the judge, suffered multiple life-threatening injuries and could be permanently confined to a wheelchair.
Judge Hopkins disqualified Davies from driving for two years and gave him a 15 month prison sentence, of which he must serve half.
As Davies left the dock he blew a kiss at his family.
Speaking after the hearing, Mr Palmer said: "I'm glad the defendant has been jailed. To have given him anything other than jail would have been quite perverse.
"He's been told to serve seven and a half months, but I've had 10 months in hospital alone.
"I've been a part-time father because I can't go home," he said.
At the original hearing Judge Hopkins criticised the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police for making a "pig's ear" of the case.At the original hearing Judge Hopkins criticised the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police for making a "pig's ear" of the case.
He said it was "outrageous" that at one time the case was discharged by magistrates.He said it was "outrageous" that at one time the case was discharged by magistrates.
If it had not been for the insistence of Mr Palmer, it would not have come to court at all, said the judge. Outside the court, Mr Palmer said that he would pursue a civil action against Davies and is also planning to arrange a meeting with the CPS about the handling of the case.
The CPS said it had not been provided with the evidence required to prepare a committal after "submitting several requests" so the case had been discharged.
A spokesman said it then worked tirelessly to obtain evidence for a trial to proceed.
"We share the frustration that a delay occurred and regret any distress this may have caused to the victims in this case," he said.
South Wales Police apologised for the way it handled the case.
A statement read: "The comments made by the judge have highlighted elements of the initial police investigation that were inadequate.
"What it is important is that lessons have been learned for the future.
"Changes have been made to internal procedures to minimise the chances of this happening again.
"South Wales Police would like to apologise to the victim and his family for failing to provide them with the usual high levels of service that the force always aims to deliver."