Blackburn drug driver severely injured cyclist in crash

Danial Arshad, 24, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Monday, October 7, after pleading guilty to causing a serious injury to professional cyclist Nicholas Cooper by careless driving.

Arshad, of Whalley New Road, Blackburn, was behind the wheel of a Seat Leon when it crashed head-on into a cyclist at the traffic lights at the Four Lane Ends junction of Pleckgate Road, Revidge Road and Lammack Road.

The court heard Arshad, who was high on cannabis at the time, showed unwillingness to wait behind another driver, with devastating consequences.

The court heard how Arshad’s impatience caused him to pull onto the wrong side of the road to pass a stalled vehicle at traffic lights.

Mr Cooper was travelling down the road on his bicycle when he collided with the Seat, and he was thrown 20 feet in the air before landing on the road.

He suffered fractures to his ribs, his spine and a collapsed lung, and was at risk of becoming paralysed throughout his stay in hospital.

A drugs test by police later found Arshad positive for cannabis at levels twice that of the prescribed limit.

In his witness statement, read out by the prosecutor Sarah Gruffydd, Mr Cooper said: “I feel I am mourning the loss of who I was before, as I felt I partially died in the incident.

The moment before the sickening collision (Image: Newsquest) “During my time in hospital, I lost my dignity but I felt at my most vulnerable when I was discharged.

“I was a very good racer and going against the best in the world, and I lost that opportunity and will never get it again as cycling was so much part of my identity.”

In mitigation, Chris Moran explained how Arshad was a man of strong character and that he had described the incident as “the worst mistake of my life.”

He said Arshad had shown a lot of remorse for his actions and he would never forgive himself for his actions.

In sentencing, Judge Richard Gioserano said: “Mr Cooper was very fortunate not to have died, and this was of course a very severe impact and all because you were impatient to get around a car that had stalled at the lights.

“Your view was restricted by the car that had stalled, and you were under the influence to some extent of cannabis.

“You are of previous good character, and you are genuinely remorseful, and you continue to demonstrate that."

Judge Gioserano said it had been a "close call" but concluded the sentence could be suspended due to Arshad's mitigation and the realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

Arshad was handed a 10-month sentence suspended for two years, with requirements including 15 days of rehabilitation activity requirements and 300 hours of unpaid work.

Arshad was also suspended from driving for three years and will be required to complete his test again to get his licence back.

Judge Gioserano added: “You have been fortunate, and I hope this is the last time a criminal court will see you.”