Man jailed after alcohol-fuelled dangerous driving left victim with life-changing injuries

**WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGE BELOW**

Joseph Dearden (23/04/1996) pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drink.

Dearden, of Hathaway Drive in Bolton, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years at Bolton Crown Court today (Friday 19 April 2024).

The victim, a 25-year-old man, was left with serious life-changing injuries.

The court heard that on Friday 13 August 2021 at 6.33pm, Dearden entered the Nook and Cranny pub on Darwen Road in Bolton.

In around 3 hours and 40 minutes he had consumed seven pints of lager and five shots of tequila.

CCTV showed Dearden staggering out of the pub, towards the front door and acting in a drunken and erratic manner.

Dearden was swaying, staggering backwards and forwards and was unsteady on his feet. He supported his stance by holding onto items around him.

Dearden left the pub and drove his company-owned Renault Trafic van away from the pub along Darwen Road where, at speed and on the wrong side of the road, he collided with parked vehicles, went head on into another which caused serious multiple injuries to the victim and further collided into a Range Rover.

Upon impact, Dearden hit his head on the windscreen of his van, causing a bullseye and a head injury to his forehead. Witnesses reported that Dearden became increasingly aggressive and then tried to flee the scene. 

Sergeant Antony Hannon, of GMP’s Road Policing Unit based in Eccles, said: “Firstly, I must thank the victim for being strong throughout the entire investigation alongside multiple surgeries. I must also thank their family for supporting them through it.

“Dearden’s reckless actions that night left the victim, a 25-year-old man, with serious life-changing injuries. His behaviour on the night in trying to flee the scene after consuming alcohol all night was cowardly. 

"Dearden has never shown any remorse or apologised to the victim and his disregard for the victim and his actions is callous.

“I must thank the witnesses who detained Dearden at the scene and assisted with the extensive investigation that has been carried out.

“I hope today’s sentencing will give some confidence to the family going forward.”