Maldon dangerous driver was 'punished for taking risk'

Corneliu Ioina, of Scraley Road, Heybridge, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court to answer charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and dangerous driving. 

On July 29 last year, Ioina was driving his Volkswagen Golf along Church Hill, Falkbourne Road, Witham, when he decided to overtake two vehicles at speed.

As he returned to the correct side, he lost control of his car and collided, head-on, with an oncoming Fiat 500.

Both drivers sustained injuries.

The driver of the Fiat, a man 50s, was cut out of his vehicle before being flown by air ambulance to hospital due to multiple serious injuries.

Ioina sustained a broken arm.

An investigation was launched by officers from Stanway Roads Policing Unit who watched the footage of the collision on Corneliu Ioina’s dash cam: it had captured the collision and several other journeys which also amounted to dangerous driving.

Working with the Crown Prosecution Service, Corneliu Ioina was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and five counts of dangerous driving.

The 21-year-old admitted the charges at an earlier hearing and was jailed for a total of two-and-a-half years.

He was also disqualified for three years and three months.

Roads policing officer Harry Townsend said: “This has been a sensitive investigation and has taken a considerable amount of time to bring before the court.

“I’d like to thank the victim for his support throughout and praise his fortitude in what was a very difficult time for him and his family.

“Corneliu Ionia was a young man who took a risk that day, a risk that he has now been punished for by the court.”

Head of Roads Policing, Adam Pipe, added: “My officers work hard to highlight the dangers on the road and to inform and educate young drivers about their decision making as they drive on the county’s roads.

“Speeding is reckless and dangerous and has very serious consequences for them, their passengers and other road users.”