A reckless drink driver who stumbled out of a pub garden before crashing his van and injuring two people has been jailed for 18 months. 

Lawson Wright, 56, was ‘turned away’ from the pub in Headington, Oxfordshire, and attempted to drive his Ford Transit van while ‘heavily intoxicated’ on Saturday April 20, 2024.  

CCTV footage shows Wright swaying as he staggered across the local pub to his van, and falling into a pot plant.

Wright collided with another vehicle on the A44 in Yarnton after driving the distance of around six miles – leaving the driver and passenger of the other vehicle with minor injuries. 

Police body-cam footage of the crash showed the impact from the crash had pushed the damaged van sideways across the road, while the other vehicle was pushed completely off the tarmac and into trees. 

The victims of the crash can be seen being attended by emergency services while sitting on the grass by the side of their vehicle.

Wright, from Headington, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for 20 months, at Oxford Crown Court on Wednesday February 11. 

He pleaded guilty to several charges, including: driving without insurance; dangerous driving; possession of a class C controlled drug, namely Diazepam; and failure to provide a specimen for analysis.

Lawson Wright was seen stumbling around a pub garden moments before getting into his van in April 2024

The 56-year-old even stumbled into a potted plant after a drinking session before taking the decision to drive away

He later crashed his van into another vehicle and sustained such serious injuries that he had to be put into an induced coma

Wright suffered serious injuries from the crash, the court heard, and was put in an induced coma.  

Judge Michael Roques said: ‘It’s hard to conceive of a more serious drink driving offence. The level of risk you posed to other road users was high. 

‘It’s a matter of luck I’m not dealing with you for causing death by dangerous drinking. You were a huge risk to members of the public that day.

‘You have escaped immediate custody by the skin of your teeth today.’ 

Wright has also been banned from driving for five years, with a requirement to complete an extended re-test, and must pay £2,000 in compensation to the victims.

The defendant must abide by a nine-month curfew, meaning he must stay at his home address between 7pm and 5am every day. 

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: ‘We say it time and time again, please do not drive and drive. 

‘It is not your life you put at risk, it is everyone else’s too.’