Man jailed for three years following serious Betchworth collision

A man has been jailed for three years after a car crash which left another man paralysed.

Alexandru Ifteni, from Farnborough, was driving without a valid licence and under the influence of alcohol when he crashed his white van into another car on Pebble Hill in Betchworth in April last year.

The other driver had to be removed from their car by firefighters and was rushed to hospital, but was left paralysed from the chest down.

Ifteni, who also had cocaine in his system at the time of the crash, was sentenced to three years in prison at Guildford Crown Court on Friday. He was also disqualified from driving for 78 months.

Stuart Bonner from Surrey Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “The injuries which the victim sustained in this collision were horrific.

“He has been left paralysed from the chest down and as a self-employed builder is no longer able to work.

“Ifteni put lives at risk by getting behind the wheel that day without a valid licence and whilst being over the legal limit. Anyone driving dangerously especially with alcohol and drugs in their system should be aware of the serious life-changing implications their selfish actions may have.”

Ifteni, 33, of Aldwick Close, Farnborough, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

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