Two familes ruined by drunken driver (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Two familes ruined by drunken driver

9:45am Monday 19th February 2001

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A BROMLEY Council surveyor had drunk too much and was speeding when he crashed into an oncoming car, killing himself and the other driver, an inquest has heard.

The head-on crash took place at night in Sevenoaks Road, Pratts Bottom, on October 5, last year.

The inquest, at Croydon Coroner's Court, heard how 59-year-old Leslie Doughty, of Birchwood Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, had drunk twice the legal limit, and was doing more than 70 mph on a road with a 50mph limit.

He was also on the wrong side of the road when he ploughed into a Vauxhall Astra driven by Emma Nettleship, a financial assistant, of Beardell Street, Upper Norwood.

Mrs Suzanne Doughty said her husband had been taking medication for depression, as he sometimes became anxious about his work.

It was, said deputy coroner, John Sampson, a very tragic case which destroyed two families.

Recording a verdict of accidental death on Mr Doughty, and unlawful killing on Miss Nettleship, Mr Sampson said if Mr Doughty had lived, he would have been dealt with in “another place” a reference to the criminal courts.

This was, he added, a clear example of the result of people failing to consider the outcome of their actions in drinking and driving.

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