Bognor Drink Driver Who Caused 'Catastrophic' Injuries, Jailed

A drink-driver who caused what's been described as catastrophic injuries to a 17-year-old cyclist has been jailed for 28 months and banned from driving for 50 months.

Benjamin Grimmett, 22, of Church Road in Rustington, hit the victim as he cycled on the pavement with a friend on the A259 in Bognor Regis, in June of last year.

He was driving his red Kia Rio north west along the A259 Charles Purley Way in Bognor Regis having spent the evening drinking with friends on West Wittering beach.

The rear wheel of Grimmett’s vehicle struck a concrete central island, causing it to cross over the opposite carriageway and mount the pavement on the other side.

The vehicle struck the victim sending him into a lamppost and causing catastrophic, life-threatening injuries including spinal damage, multiple broken bones and a bleed on the brain.

Grimmett failed to stop at the scene despite damage to his windscreen making it virtually impossible to see through. He came to a stop in the nearside lane around one mile away, where he failed a roadside breathalyser test.

He was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol in his system and for failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision.

A search in custody found Grimmett was in possession of both Class A and B drugs and a further breath test found he had 54 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 50mcg per 100ml of breath.

Grimmett had previously pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, possession of Class A and B drugs and driving while under the influence of alcohol.

He was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol in his system and for failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic collision.

A search in custody found Grimmett was in possession of both Class A and B drugs and a further breath test found he had 54 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 50mcg per 100ml of breath.