A driver wrote off three cars when he was overtaking a line of traffic on a village road.

Kenneth Littler, 58, was on the wrong side of the road when he was involved in a collision with another car in Thorpe le Soken

A court heard how the accident in Station Road resulted in three cars, including Littler's, being badly damaged.

Littler, from Byng Close, Thorpe le Soken, was banned from driving for 3 and a half years, told to take an extended driving test and given a one-year community rehabilitation order when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court for sentenc

He had denied a dangerous driving charge but was convicted after a trial last month.

Recorder Mark Lowe QC told him: "Three cars were written off and three people were injured. It could have been a lot worse."

The trial heard Littler's Mazda car overtook a line of traffic at a bend in Station Road and collided with a Ford Escort car coming in the opposite direction on February 1.

Three cars were damaged in the accident, the trial heard.

Littler admitted the overtaking had been stupid and his driving was careless but he denied his driving had been dangerous.

Stephen Requena, mitigating, said it was not the worst case of dangerous driving and no drink or drugs were involved.

Littler had medical problems and he was unlikely to drive again, Mr Requena added.

Published Monday October 21, 2002

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