A MOTORIST who performed a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre that caused another driver to collide with a tree has been sentenced by magistrates.

John James Hoyle overtook a series of vehicles in his Skoda Octavia on a blind crest on the A68 at Fir Tree, near Crook, in County Durham, at 7.45am on January 31.

Rachael Dodworth, prosecuting at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court today (Wednesday, April 2), said Hoyle’s actions resulted in a BMW driver sustaining minor injuries, including cuts to his face and pains in his back, neck and shoulders.

Mrs Dodsworth said: “The Skoda driver overtook a series of vehicles on a blind crest and in contravention of a solid double white line.

“He was still on the wrong side of the carriageway when a BMW coming in the opposite direction came out of the dip.

“The BMW driver managed to swerve slightly to his left, but the two vehicles still collided, offside to offside, with the BMW leaving the road and hitting a tree.”

The court heard that Hoyle, of Whitwell Terrace, Crook, only held a provisional licence at the time of the collision.

The 20-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Mohammed Aftab, mitigating, described the incident as a “moment of madness,” adding: “He is an inexperienced driver who was being supervised by his girlfriend, who was probably not the best person to do so.

"He admits what he did was stupid.”

Hoyle received 12 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months; probation supervision; and 150 hours of unpaid work.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and was ordered to pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.