Crash driver '˜waited seven hours before getting help for injured friend' who has been left partially paralysed

Jack Gornall, 25, of Gas Street, Longridge, admits careless driving but denies causing serious injury dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

Front passenger David Easom was left with serious spinal injuries after Gornall's Toyota Hilux collided with an Audi on Higher Road in Longridge in May 2017.

The court previously heard Gornall had collided with the oncoming Audi as he tried to overtake a minibus ferrying people from Longridge Golf Club to Clitheroe.

During the trial Mr Easom, who is wheelchair bound, said from almost immediately after the collision there was something wrong; he couldn't move his legs and arms and had told Gornall he needed an ambulance and "needed help".

The prosecution allege Gornall made a call to a friend saying he had been in an accident and had "ruined his life" - and the same friend then came upon the accident scene and realised it was the same incident.

Meanwhile Gornall had taken Mr Easom to Deer House Farm, which is up a secluded track, and remained there for half an hour before calling his dad, David Gornall.

It is then alleged the father and son lifted him into the father's car and they took Mr Easom back to David Gornall's home in Longridge, where he was laid out on a bed.

It is alleged it was hours before help was finally sought for Mr Easom, with the father making a call to a friend who was a paramedic at 7.30am the next day.

It was only then that an ambulance was called and the patient taken to hospital.

It was nine hours before the police were informed by Gornall of the accident.

Prosecuting, Arthur Gibson, summing up, added: "And you've seen the result.

"This is a very sad, tragic case, primarily of course for David Easom but it's also very sad and tragic for Jack Gornall, no doubt a hard working young man of good character, but he's an adult, he has responsibilities.

"The reason why he is in this mess is entirely of his own making."

Gornall's defence is that he panicked and he did not realise his friend was so seriously injured.

(proceeding)