A WOMAN’S driving skill prevented a potential triple tragedy when a casino manager crashed into her car on the North York Moors, York Crown Court heard.

Austin Newman, prosecuting, showed the court dashcam footage of Lee Parker’s 4x4 overtaking at speed over a no-overtaking line on the approach to a blind summit with a bend as Clare Butterfield was approaching it correctly from the opposite direction.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, told Parker: "With great presence of mind she at the last minute was able to swerve, so as to avoid a head-on collision which would for you, for her and possibly for the vehicle you were overtaking, have been fatal."

Parker, 44, of Hoskins Lane, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years on condition he does 200 hours’ unpaid work. He was also banned from driving for 30 months and ordered to retake his driving test.

His barrister Glenn Parsons said as a result of his conviction a gambling licensing board would decide whether or not it would revoke him his casino licence.

Mr Newman said the crash happened on the A171 near Ugthorpe between Whitby and Scaling Reservoir at 8pm on Tuesday January 3 as Parker was driving from Scarborough towards his home in Middlesbrough.

As Parker began the overtaking manoeuvre, the driver being overtaken was so alarmed by his action he steered to the left to try TO give him more space.

As Ms Butterfield came over the brow of the hill, she was suddenly confronted with two sets of headlights coming towards her – one of them on her side of the road.

Parker’s Jeep crushed the side of her two-seater vehicle and she was trapped inside. She had to be cut out and although she suffered multiple injuries, none of her bones were broken.