A former high-flying businessman who could have killed a 14-year-old boy when he drunkenly drove into the front of a house has been spared jail.
Gavin Morland was six times over the alcohol limit when he crashed into a red Ford Focus, a lamppost and the two-storey property in Broad Street, Sheerness, on June 15.
Morland’s vehicle crashed into the two-storey home in Broad Street, Sheerness. Photo: Laura Nina
The 57-year-old, of Cecil Avenue in the town, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on January 10 for sentencing having pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.
The court heard, how on the day of the offence, Morland was driving a black Hyundai Tucson in Broad Street when he crashed into a car, before mounting a curb, going through a lamppost, and landing in the front of a house where a 14-year-old boy was present.
Ghulam Ali, prosecuting, explained how the teenager had no injuries, but the incident had caused his mother Miss Frudenberg “massive anxiety”.
A victim personal statement, read out by the prosecutor on behalf of the mum, said: “He [Morland] could have caused the whole front of the house to come down and my children could have been seriously injured.”
She went on to say how people often walk past the front of her house, adding it was “extremely lucky no one was there as he could have killed anyone on the footpath”.
Gavin Morland was given a suspended sentence after he plead guilty to dangerous driving when he crashed into a car and house. Picture: LinkedIn
The court then heard how police officers had observed a strong smell of alcohol coming from Morland as he slurred his words and struggled to stand after the crash.
Officers also found an empty bottle of alcohol in the front footwell and, in an interview with the police on June 16, Morland admitted to drinking half a 70cl bottle of vodka.
Mr Ali explained how the defendant thought he had “spread drinking out over enough time” and believed the main reason he had crashed was “something else going on in his head and blacking out”.
It was revealed Morland had a previous conviction for driving with excess alcohol in January 2022 and two other offences of being drunk in charge of a vehicle.
But his defence barrister, Kiera Vinall explained to the court that Morland “does understand the position he finds himself in”.
She said: “His greatest mitigation is his guilty plea,” as she explained he had previously been of good character until the breakdown of his marriage.
Morland been sentenced for dangerous driving after he crashed into a house in Sheerness. Photo: Laura NinaThe aftermath of the crash in Broad Street, Sheerness. Photo: Laura Nina
“He left the family home and became homeless for six weeks. His wife then filed for a divorce, and it has had a substantial emotional impact on him and he relied on alcohol as a crutch.”
Explaining his other offences, she said: “Mr Morland was homeless living in his car and officers stopped him when he was drinking in his car, which was essentially his home.
Addressing the victim impact statement, Ms Vinall said her client was “absolutely horrified” about what had happened, adding that he plays it over in his head everyday “like a film on loop”.
Since the incident, the court heard that Morland, who previously worked in the oil industry for over 30 years as a global business manager, had enrolled in a residential addiction course and had now been clean for 81 days.
In addition, she added he had continued to engage with support services, including alcoholics anonymous.
The defence barrister also noted that since his offence he had been diagnosed with a medical condition and has had further instances of passing out, adding: “The condition does appear to have had some impact.”
You could have easily killed yourself or an occupant of this house
In his sentencing remarks, Recorder David Jeremy KC said: “You were driving your car when you’d had far too much to drink, so much so, that you lost control of your car.
“You crashed into a car and a house where a child was present at the time. You could have easily killed yourself or an occupant of this house.
“The picture is a man that not only descended into alcohol but a man who was totally irresponsible and indifferent to the risk you posed to others.”
Despite this, Recorder Jeremy noted Morland’s steps towards rehabilitation and issued a suspended sentence order of 14 months, suspended for 18 months.
In addition, the judge ordered an alcohol treatment order for six months and 10 sessions for rehabilitation activity.
But, taking the view, he should also be punished, Morland was ordered to pay a fine of £5,000 as well as being disqualified for driving for 30 months with the condition he would need to take a retest before he could drive again.
Recorder Jeremy told him: “You must be punished for what you have done rather than just encouraged to rehabilitate yourself.”