Robin Patton prosecuted the case and outlined the facts; in summary:
On 21 January 2022 in Bowburn Co. Durham Hugh Holmes drove a stolen car through a red light colliding with a van before smashing through safety railings on a bridge over the A1 motorway. The car fell onto the central reservation causing serious, life threatening injuries to his passenger. Holmes fled the scene telling members of the public who came to help that it was the seriously injured passenger who had been driving.
Hugh Holmes pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to supply a specimen for analysis.
Following mitigation by Paul Rooney, Holmes was sentenced to 32 months custody.
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