A Stanford-le-Hope actor and musician, whose promising career was ended when he was involved in a devastating road crash, has been awarded compensation estimated at almost £2m.

Ronald Cullen, now 32, was left severely disabled and unable to lead an independent life after the smash on April 10, 1992, the High Court heard.

He was in the front passenger seat of a car being driven by Mark Grandon, of east London, when it collided with another vehicle in Cardiff.

He suffered serious brain injury, leaving him confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak and needing round-the-clock care. He sued both Mr Grandon and the other driver, Nicholas Crane, of Cardiff.

Insurers for both defendants admitted liability to compensate Mr Cullen, his counsel Peter Andrews, QC, told the court. He will receive a £300,000 lump sum, plus a guaranteed annual income of £73,926, index-linked for the rest of his life.

Mr Cullen has already received interim payments of £93,000 and lawyers have estimated the total value of the settlement will be around £1.9m. Most of the sum is to cover the costs of his future care and lost earnings.

Mr Andrews said his client had shown promise as a talented singer, actor and entertainer. His drama tutor had described him as a natural performer with "audience appeal and a lot of belief in himself", he added.

He also fronted the band, Mosaic, which had appeared on TV. Hearing settlement terms had been agreed, the judge approved it as "entirely in Mr Cullen's interests."

He added: "I don't have any problems at all about it."

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