A drug-driver who took cocaine then crashed head-on into a car on the A10, causing its driver to suffer a heart attack, has been jailed.
Lascelles Allard, 58, of Northfield Park, Soham, did not have a driving licence or insurance when he suddenly veered across the road and smashed his Kia Stonic into a Volvo XC60.
It happened on the A10 at Ely, just north of the Witchford Road roundabout, at about 5.30pm on January 26, and left Allard with serious chest injuries and spinal fractures.
The Volvo driver, a 61-year-old man from Littleport, suffered rib and sternum fractures, along with muscle damage, and suffered a heart attack from which he has since recovered.
A witness saw Allard swerve suddenly as if to overtake, although there was no vehicle in his lane. Another saw him driving at speed prior to the crash and collide with a roundabout.
Cocaine was found in his system in a blood sample.
Allard claimed in a police interview that he could not have been driving as he did not have a licence – but then agreed he must have been, as he was the only person in the car.
He claimed missing a day of morphine had led to him becoming incoherent.
At Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday (November 24), Allard was jailed for two years and a month, having admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving with no insurance and two counts of drug driving, for cocaine and benzoylecgonine.
He was disqualified from driving for four years.
PC Steph Corletto said: “Allard endangered himself and other road users when he got behind the wheel of his car, not only under the influence of drugs, but also with no insurance and no driving licence.
“This case and sentencing sends an important message not to drug drive.
“As traffic officers, we are sick and tired of the destruction this causes and we will not tolerate it on our roads.”
The force operates a 24/7 dedicated, confidential hotline – 0800 032 0845 – to enable the public to provide information about anyone they think may be driving under the influence. Always call 999 in an emergency.
