A motorist has been sentenced after a momentary distraction caused him to seriously injure another person.

Brian Lamb, of Milars Field in Oswestry, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Monday.

The 57-year-old admitted that on January 16, he caused serious injury to a man named Philip Allen by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court that at around 8.15am on the day of the offence, the defendant was travelling behind a taxi on the A5 at Chirk.

As he leaned down to move some items from the floor of his vehicle, traffic ahead of him slowed down - and as he looked up again he was "right on top of the vehicle in front."

With no time to brake, he struck the rear of the other vehicle and caused it to veer into the opposite carriage, where it was struck by an oncoming vehicle.

When he was interviewed by police, Lamb admitted full liability.

He admitted he hadn't been concentrating and that his driving had "momentarily fallen below what was expected."

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The victim, Mr Allen, spent four nights in hospital with a range of injuries - the main ones being bruising to his head and left side, tenderness in his shoulder, ligament damage and multiple fractures in his spine at chest level.

In a victim personal statement, he said he had been unable to work in the aftermath, and found it hard to have to turn to benefits after working for the previous seventeen years.

He added: "I am sure I will fully recover in time.

"I have no malice towards the driver of the vehicle which hit me - he didn't intend to cause an accident.

"He should have been looking, though, at the road ahead."

A probation officer told the court that as Lamb drove his works vehicle, he became concerned after a file got into the driver's side footwell - which he feared might have impeded his ability to brake.

The officer explained: "Unfortunately in that short period, the accident ensued.

"He works for a company which has three garage sites and he needs to travel between them making sure all car they have for resale have their bodywork in top condition.

"There will be a disqualification and this is going to have a major impact on Mr Lamb and his wife; it will result in him losing his job.

"He is extremely remorseful."

Alex MacKenzie, defending, told the court: "Ultimately, perhaps we can see a little bit of ourselves in this scenario.

"Mr Lamb in no way set out intending to cause harm on that day.

"In his misguided attempt to prevent harm, he caused harm.

"This was a case in which his papers would normally be kept secure in a box, but for whatever reason some came loose and went into the driver's footwell so he went to pick them up with the best intentions, but became momentarily distracted.

"The consequences are not something he is going to forget in a hurry.

"He immediately called an ambulance and engaged with the police at the roadside."

The court handed down a 12 month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

Lamb must pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 costs.