A driver who crashed head-on into a family on a 3am hospital dash for their 83-year-old father with breathing difficulties has narrowly avoided jail.

Viorel Gabriel Hardon had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving near St Austell on November 21 last year, causing a crash that "could have killed them" had things gone differently, a court heard.

He then fled the scene, arrested by police some four hours later while walking along the road drinking a bottle of vodka.

On Friday he was sentenced by Judge Robert Linford, who said the 32-year-old had come "very, very close" to prison and it was only that his wife and young children would be left without the main breadwinner that stopped this from happening.

The prosecution said it was between 3am and 4am on the night of the crash that a husband and wife were on their way to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro with his elderly father.

"It was a potential emergency situation, because his father had raised concerns about his breathing, and so [the driver] was in the process of taking his father to hospital in Truro for treatment," said the prosecutor.

"He was travelling between 55 and 60mph when he saw the headlights of another vehicle, driven by the defendant, coming towards him at speed.

"The defendant's vehicle crossed over the double white lines and to [the victim's] lane, causing [the victim] to swerve and slam on the brakes.

"The defendant's Megane smashed into the right hand front wing, causing the Ford Kuga to scrape along trees and then slide down a bank.

"Massive damage was caused to both vehicles as a result and the Kuga was written off."

The victim's elderly father had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters and was taken to hospital with a broken rib, and he continues to suffer from whiplash.

Both the husband and wife also suffered injuries that needed physiotherapy

Hardon fled the scene and was found by police walking along the side of the road, after a tip-off from a member of the public whose door Hardon had knocked on, shouting for help.

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Dash cam footage was seized from his vehicle and it showed Hardon "weaving in and out of lanes", crossing into the lane for oncoming traffic "on multiple occasions."

When interviewed by police Hardon said he had been at a work Christmas party, but maintained he had not drunk any alcohol at it.

He told officers when he left the party he had taken a bottle of vodka with him, to drink at home. He claimed he had tried to call 999 but his phone battery had died.

"He couldn't see anyone nearby so picked up the bottle of vodka and started to walk home, dinking from the bottle as he went," said the prosecutor.

"He felt he had walked for hours and drunk most of the bottle by the time he was arrested, but was adamant he was not drunk when he drove. He said he was tired, having worked and then attended the party."

In a statement, the victim said his wife had been most traumatised by what had happened, and to this day was wary of being in the car, particularly at night. His father continued to suffer from neck issues.

The family had also not been able to replace the car – which had only been a few months old at the time of the crash – due to delivery shortages and it would now cost more to lease, plus see an increase in insurance following the claim.

"As if our situation was not stressful enough, the extreme lack of human compassion shown from the other party in the collision was truly staggering," added the victim.

Hardon, who represented himself, said he had previously worked as a driver for DPD, but had since gone back to being a butcher for Danish Crown in Bugle, after losing his licence for a previous conviction of drink driving.

The court heard that in 2014 he had been convicted of drink driving and banned from holding a licence for 12 months, then in 2015 had received a suspended eight-week prison sentence for driving whilst disqualified and with no insurance.

Judge Linford said these were aggravating factors in the case, in addition to the fact he fled the scene of the crash.

He told Hardon: "You need to know that you came very, very close to having to go to prison, because this was an extremely serious offence of its type.

"You could have killed them, in which case very different considerations would apply.

"You are not represented. I suppose what would be said on your behalf is you're a hardworking family man, with a young family to support and a prison sentence would lead to extreme hardship for your family."

He sentenced Hardon to a 12-month supervision order and 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for two years and must take an extended test at the end of the ban.

Hardon, of Red Lane, Bugle, said: "I didn't mean to hurt anybody. I can do everything to repair my mistake."