Drink-driver jailed after injuring woman in head-on crash

A drink-driver has been jailed after seriously injuring a woman in a head-on crash.

Police were called to Alfreton Road, Selston, on 6 June 2025 following reports of a collision between an Audi A3 and a Suzuki Swift.

The driver of the Suzuki, a 19-year-old woman, had suffered injuries to her neck and collar bone and was taken to hospital.

When officers arrived at the scene at 10.43pm, the driver of the Audi, Rory Helps, approached them.

He was stumbling, slurring his words and admitted he had drunk ‘five pints’ that evening.

Investigations took place which revealed the Audi had been on the wrong side of the road prior to the collision.

The Suzuki driver told officers she had tried to avoid a crash by going onto the wrong side of the road herself.

However, the Audi then swerved back onto the correct side resulting in a head-on collision which left both vehicles in a hedge.

Helps was breathalysed and recorded a reading of 100 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – nearly three times the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

He also admitted being a frequent cannabis user and a small amount of the drug was found in the glovebox of his car.

The victim suffered a broken wrist and collar bone.

She was left in pain months after the incident and described ‘the huge impact’ the injuries had on her college course.

Helps, aged 28, of Wycliffe Road, Alfreton, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty to drink-driving, drug-driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and possession of a Class B drug.

At Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday (31 March) he was jailed for a total of 22 months.

Police Constable Joseph Reynolds, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“By getting behind the wheel after drinking, Helps was putting any other road users and himself at risk of serious injury or worse.

“His driving was impaired enough that he was on the wrong side of a country road, leading to a head-on collision with our victim’s car.

“She is a young driver and the impact of what happened that night continues to deeply affect her.

“Drink or drug-driving is selfish, reckless and ruins lives.

"As a force, our work is very much ongoing to prevent and reduce this risk on our roads as well as catching and prosecuting those like Helps who break the law and put innocent people’s safety at risk as well as their own.

“We hope this case will further encourage people to think twice before deciding to drive while under the influence of alcohol.”