Reaction after Bridport South Street crash driver sentenced

Kyle Blackwell, 28, drove over the limit with four people in the car he had just met and lost control, causing a dramatic smash in South Street which damaged seven vehicles plus a house.

Leaving people injured in the car and a scene of destruction Blackwell ran home and got into bed.

The defendant, of West Allington, previously pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, driving a vehicle when alcohol level above the limit, being a driver involved in a road accident and failed to report that incident and failing to stop after a road accident.

He has now been sentenced for the offences, relating to a crash in the early hours of May 19, and was fined and given a community order, as well as a driving ban.A parked car flew into Ms Manning's wall, causing cracks to appear in the outside structure (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Hayley Manning, whose house was damaged in the crash, said the sentence given to Blackwell "did not sound like enough".

She added: “We won’t get anything out of this, we still haven’t received a settlement from the insurance people.

"We have only had the structural engineer come around this week, it is ridiculous.

“We are both busy with work and insurance people don’t come willingly forward, it is another hassle you can do without.

“It is so frustrating and we have to find time to make it right again.

“I don’t think they understand the stress and the impact it has had on all of us.”

She added: “(Blackwell) has a driving ban and yet he shouldn’t have been driving in the first place.

"It is appalling.

“When we hear people racing up the street, it is scary now.

“I just feel like it is going to happen again."

A parked car flew into Ms Manning's wall, causing cracks to appear. The wall was damaged on the inside and out and left her unable to open her own front door.

The damage to the inside of the wall (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Chris Neaves had his car written off in the smash.

He said of the sentence: "It sounds feeble to be honest.

"I feel sorry for the poor people that got into his car.

"He should apologise to them and to all of the people here.

"I feel it is too lenient but let’s hope he has learned a lesson."

South Street resident Chris Neaves said his car was written off after being hit in the crash (Image: Tom Lawrence)

As previously reported, Blackwell drove with four people in the car he had just met that evening after "playing hard" and watching the boxing match between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

After crashing he ran to his then home in St Michael's Lane and got into bed. Police caught up with him shortly after and arrested him.

A test at the station revealed he had 54 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit 35 micrograms.

Siobhan Oxley, prosecuting, told the sentencing hearing at Weymouth Magistrates Court: “In an interview with police he was fully cooperative.

“He said there was no reason he could not have stayed at the scene of the crash.

“He stated he has gone for a few drinks at the pub and had about four or five pints.

“He said he did a shot of vodka when he got home after the crash.

“He also did a line of cocaine the day before.

“He is worried about an alcohol problem and a drug addiction.”

Blackwell told magistrates said: “I would like to apologise for my actions.

“I think some mental health support is well overdue.”

Blackwell was given a 16-month community order, with an alcohol treatment requirement and a mental health treatment requirement and he must also complete 10 days of rehabilitation activities.

He was fined £550, ordered to pay a surcharge of £114 and court costs of £85.

He was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

If he completes a drink driver rehabilitation course, the ban will be reduced by 16 weeks.