Ex-Brookside actor given suspended prison sentence over crash

Actor Louis Emerick has been fixed a suspended jailhouse condemnation aft hitting 2 12-year-old girls with his car.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said helium "was not speeding but admitted helium couldn't spot intelligibly due to the fact that of the prima truthful helium should person slowed down".

Emerick was handed a 26-week situation sentence, which was suspended for 12 months, astatine Wirral Magistrates' Court.

Speaking aft the sentencing, Emerick said helium did not cognize however helium could person lived with himself if either of the girls had died.

The actor, who was charged nether his afloat sanction Louis Emerick Grant, was driving towards Wallasey Village connected Merseyside arsenic the 2 girls crossed Poulton Road astatine astir 17:15 GMT.

Two CCTV clips were played to the tribunal showing his Honda car cutting the country of the right-hand bend, going into the "centre hatched markings" and hitting the friends, who were thrown to the ground.

One of the girls suffered a breached limb portion the different sustained fractures to her near leg, close ankle, jaw and chemoreceptor and damaged 4 teeth, 2 of which she whitethorn lose, the tribunal heard.

In unfortunate interaction statements, their mothers said the girls had been physically and mentally affected by the trauma and had missed months of schooling.

The parent of the eldest unfortunate said her girl inactive had nightmares and needed country to region a metallic sheet from her leg.

She added signing a consent signifier for her daughter's limb to beryllium amputated if indispensable "was 1 of the hardest things I person ever done," saying "the past 8 months person been horrendous".

"We don't clasp grudges with the driver. He has been successful interaction and apologised," the different girl's parent said.

"I realise it was an accident, I don't privation him punished for an accident."

Natasha Williamson, prosecuting, said Emerick, who stayed astatine the country and called the exigency services, had been co-operative with police.

But she added: "He should person slowed down if his presumption was impaired by the sun."

Tony Nelson, defending, said the suspect had nary erstwhile convictions and had been driving for astir 50 years with a cleanable licence.

"He utterly and profoundly regrets his mistake connected the time successful question," helium said.

He added Emerick had not been speeding, drinking, utilizing drugs oregon connected a phone.

"This was quality error. A momentary lapse of attraction and helium thinks astir it each day," helium said.

Sentencing Emerick, Peter Mawdesley, president of the bench, said: "Since the mishap you person intelligibly shown remorse and contrition and taken assorted steps to interaction the victims and their parents."

Emerick was besides ordered to transportation retired 200 hours of unpaid enactment and fixed an 18-month driving ban.

The histrion is champion known for his relation arsenic Mick Johnson connected the Liverpool-based soap Brookside, but has appeared connected a fig of different shows, including Doctors, Last of the Summer Wine, Casualty, Coronation Street, Silent Witness and Zapped.