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ROBERT MORRISON, 39, CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE 05:00, 29 May 2025 A dangerous driver who got drunk at a funeral before causing a head-on collision has been

jailed. Robert Morrison, 39, was travelling along Wansbeck Road, in Fawdon, when he carried out a "dangerous" overtaking manoeuvre. Newcastle Crown Court was told on the evening of

June 30, 2023, Morrison left a funeral and collected his dad. The court heard Morrison, of Amherst Road, Fawdon, was travelling down Wansbeck Road at "excessive speed" in a 30

zone when he overtook a vehicle. The court was told his vehicle collided head-on with an oncoming car. The car was being driven by a woman in her early 70s. When the cars collided the

victim's car spun around and caused her legs to become trapped in the vehicle, the court was told. The car filled with smoke and the woman initially believed it was on fire, but this

was not the case. The female driver suffered serious injuries which included two broken ankles and a fractured hip. COURT We have a dedicated newsletter for court news and updates. It’s free

and you can SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT HERE. It will keep you up to date with all the latest court cases and sentence updates from around the North East. Article continues below The court heard

the driver of the overtaken car said he was travelling at 20mph and when the defendant overtook him on the wrong side of the road at a speed he believed to be around 50 mph. On sentencing,

Judge Penny Moreland said: "At half past seven on the evening of June 30, 2023, you were driving along Wansbeck Road in Fawdon. I'm told you had spent the day drinking at a funeral

and had gone to collect your father. "You were driving at a speed that was excessive for the road and undertook a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre and collided head-on with a car."

Judge Moreland said the car was being driven by a woman in her early 70s. She added: "You caused her really serious harm. She was then a lady in her early 70s, fit, healthy and enjoying

her retirement. "Because of what you did, you have in effect robbed her of that retirement. Her life will never be the same because she is in pain, her mobility has been impaired and

is suffering from PTSD. "She will never enjoy that retirement again, she was enjoying it up until the moment you decided to drive your car in a way that was dangerous." She added:

"You were, of course, driving with excess alcohol. Your blood alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit." Article continues below The court heard Morrison had previously

been disqualified from driving and was not in possession of a licence at the time of the incident. The court was told Morrison was "remorseful" and is expecting a child next month

with his partner. Morrison, who pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was jailed for three years.