Sunderland drink-driver ended footballer's dreams

Nov 17 2009 by Garry Willey, The Journal

DREAMS of soccer stardom were shattered when a drink and drugs-crazed driver mounted a pavement outside a school and careered into a boy of 14.

Craig Williams was just weeks away from a trial to launch the football career he had worked so hard to achieve.

But his hopes were wrecked in a moment when he was mown down during school lunch break by showoff David Batty – three times over the drink limit and with cocaine in his system.

Surgeons had to rebuild Craig’s shattered leg with pins and a metal plate.

His shoulder and pelvis were also fractured and Batty – who had been doing wheel-smoking handbrake turns in a car park – left the teenager trapped against railings with one of the wheels of his silver Citroen Saxo against his face.

And as Batty was given a 15-month jail sentence at Newcastle Crown Court, the devastating impact of the crash was revealed.

“Craig describes that he was in extreme pain for weeks,” said Neil Pallister, prosecuting. “He was on crutches for eight weeks and suffers sleep disorders, nightmares, and flashbacks.

“He also describes how he was very keen on football and was due to have a trial but clearly could not attend because of the injuries he had sustained.

“Due to the accident he can no longer pursue the career he had hoped to follow.

“He describes himself being very angry and upset by that, having worked hard to get to the level he was at.”