Brighton drug driver caused motorcyclist to have leg amputated

James Pateman drove his Ford Transit van into Jeremy Brand knocking him over onto the pavement on July 21 last year.

He was more than double the legal limit for cocaine and was under the influence of cannabis when he crashed in New England Road, Brighton.

The 38-year-old caused catastrophic injuries to Mr Brand which required four surgeries on his right leg which had to be amputated above the knee.

District Judge Amanda Kelly said Pateman’s driving had “devastating consequences”.

James Pateman leaving Brighton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

She sent the case to Lewes Crown Court because Pateman had multiple drugs in his system when he crashed.

Judge Kelly said: “I have read the pre-sentence report that shows Mr Pateman is genuinely and extremely remorseful. I have also read the victim impact statement which details the impact on Mr Brand’s family, home and work life.

“I sense Mr Pateman genuinely is remorseful.

“Because of the two drugs in your system, I do not feel I can sentence in this court.”

Pateman, of Chatham Place, near Seven Dials in Brighton, was pulling out between vehicles when he hit Mr Brand last year.

Pateman, wearing a black suit, white shirt and snood around his neck, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving, as well as driving a vehicle while over the specified limit for three drugs in his system.

The police cordon in Chatham Place at the Seven Dials roundabout (Image: The Argus)

He had 25 micrograms of cocaine per litre of blood in his system, more than double the legal limit of ten micrograms.

Pateman also had 2.1g micrograms of Delt-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, known at THC which is the active ingredient in cannabis, per litre of blood. He also exceeded the limit for Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.

Pateman was released on unconditional bail. He also has an interim driving ban.

He will be sentenced on March 6 at Lewes Crown Court.