A MOTORIST whose car ploughed into a York bungalow after he had an epileptic fit at the wheel has been spared a jail term for dangerous driving.

York Crown Court heard how Andrew William Flanagan, of Howard Link, in Rawcliffe, had been commuting to work every day in his car even though he had been told not to drive by his doctor due to his medical condition.

Prosecuting, Stephanie Hancock said when Flanagan left his home shortly before 7.20am on July 22, he suffered an epileptic fit as he approached the T-junction at the end of his street and lost control of the vehicle.

She described how he failed to stop at the junction, drove across the road and crashed into a bungalow in Rawcliffe Croft, where a couple was sleeping inside.

Sentencing Flanagan to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, Recorder Eric Elliott QC said: “This was a disaster waiting to happen, considering you knew you had epileptic fits from time to time. Everyone was of the view except you that you shouldn’t drive a vehicle. Had you not driven your vehicle, you wouldn’t be here today.

“This could have resulted in death had you crossed that junction when another vehicle crossed the junction. It might have been carrying a child on the way to school and you could have been here charged with death by dangerous driving.”

Flanagan, 25, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, was also disqualified from driving for two years, ordered to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work and was given 12 months’ supervision.

The judge said: “Those occupants were totally petrified when they realised what had happened. I have no doubt at all they will continue to suffer, particularly the lady of the house, when she tries to go to sleep wondering what is going to greet her the following morning when she wakes.”

The court heard how the crash had left a large hole in the bungalow and the occupants had to be rehoused while £22,000 of repairs were carried out.

Flanagan’s solicitor, Liam Hassan, said his client had not been before the court for similar offences and had lost his job as a result of the incident.

The judge said: “I take it this was foolishness on your behalf and a total lack of judgement rather than a deliberate malevolence. You were desperate to keep your job and it was for that reason that you were prepared to take the risk that you did. Given that normally you are a hard-working young man, I take the view that the sentence of imprisonment can be suspended.”