Ex-rugby pro 'could have killed' with crash drive

Christopher Simpson-Daniel was a professional Rugby League player (file photo)

This article contains distressing details including around mental health and suicide

An ex-rugby player could have killed someone during an intoxicated dangerous driving spree in which he hit several cars, including a learner driver, before crashing into a wall, a judge has said.

Christopher Simpson-Daniel, 47, was found slumped asleep at his steering wheel by police after his chaotic trip in his BMW through Stockton and Middlesbrough in October, Teesside Crown Court heard.

He admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for 10 months, suspended for two years.

He was spared jail after the court heard he had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease "caused or contributed to" by head impacts in his career.

'Barely speak or stand'

Simpson-Daniel, of Oak Tree Close in Middleton St George near Darlington, first crashed his black convertible BMW into an Audi on the A66 near the Newport interchange on 31 October, prosecutor Rachel Butt said.

He failed to stop and carried on driving his heavily damaged car, pursued by another concerned motorist who called police, the court heard.

Simpson-Daniel hit the kerb several times, struck a learner driver and veered on to the wrong side of the carriageway, causing oncoming cars to take evasive action, before crashing into the wall of a warehouse on Forty Foot Road in Middlesbrough, Ms Butt said.

Police found him asleep at the wheel with an officer having to slap his face several times to wake him, the court heard.

He smelled strongly of alcohol and could barely speak or stand, the court heard.

• If you have been affected by any issues raised, support can be found at BBC Action Line

In mitigation, Christopher Morrison said Simpson-Daniel had been a professional Rugby League player who represented his country as a youth.

He then ran a successful property business before the "physical toll of his sporting commitment" manifested itself in a "pernicious and striking" way, Mr Morrison said.

He said Simpson-Daniel had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia and CTE, a deteriorating illness attributed to brain trauma caused by repeated impacts to the head, and at the time of his offending was "clearly in a very bad place indeed".

But Simpson-Daniel has also started an organisation to help other former sports people and military veterans cope with the same illnesses, the court heard.

'Grim medical situation'

Judge Richard Bennett said Simpson-Daniel had had a "complete mental health breakdown" in the hours before the spree and had taken a mixture of drugs and alcohol.

He had then got in his car to drive to the coast to kill himself but "risked the lives of many others" to do so which was "inexcusable", the judge said.

"It was a miracle how you had not killed someone," Judge Bennett said, adding it was only thanks to the quick-thinking evasive actions of other drivers that no-one had been injured or worse.

The judge said there was "sympathy" for Simpson-Daniel as he was a "victim of what happened to [him] when a professional sportsman", adding the "grim medical situation" was caused by or contributed to" by his rugby career.

But there "could have been many other victims" of Simpson-Daniel's "appalling driving", the judge said, adding he had been banned twice before for drink driving.

Simpson-Daniel was also ordered to do 300 hours' unpaid work and abide by a 120-day alcohol abstinence programme, which will see him having to wear an ankle tag to monitor his drinking.

He was banned from driving for two years and four months and must pass an extended test.