Court today: Former Worcester drink driver who blamed dog for crash

Przemyslaw Marek, previously of Worcester, is due to be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court later today when he appears before Judge Nicolas Cartwright.

The defendant admitted dangerous driving which caused serious injury when he appeared last month.

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The crash happened on July 7 last year when Marek crashed his Renault Kangoo van on the A44 at Bredenbury, near Bromyard, causing serious injuries to Fiona Finney. Her injuries were not disclosed in open court.

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The Hereford Times, our sister paper, reported how three people were taken to hospital following the crash just before 5pm. The road had to be closed and a quantity of oil was spilled.

The 44-year-old of Waterford Lodge, Knightwick, near Worcester had pleaded not guilty on December 10 last year but changed his plea when he appeared before judge Nicolas Cartwright.

Nicholas Berry, prosecuting, said on the last occasion that the defendant had already pleaded guilty to being intoxicated as well as not having a valid licence.

Marek, previously of Wasdale Court, Warndon, pleaded guilty on the basis he was distracted by a dog in the car. The judge asked if there was a dog. Marek’s barrister, Timothy Sapwell, said: “Yes there was. The dog thankfully escaped with minor injuries.”

Mr Sapwell said his client ‘denied being asleep’. “That was the supposition of those in the other car coming towards him because he appeared to be slumped over the wheel,” said Mr Sapwell.

The advocate said the other vehicle was on the wrong side of the road but added: “The reason it was on the wrong side of the road was because Mr Marek's van was also in the wrong place as a result of his dog distracting him from his driving.”

Sentence had been adjourned until November 18 to allow the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report but the case did not go ahead.