A MOTORIST who fell asleep before causing a Borders crash which seriously injured an elderly couple has avoided a custodial sentence at Jedburgh Sheriff Court. 

Adam Sinclair, who is 38, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving on the A68 near St Boswells on the afternoon of August 20, 2019. 

Lawyer Stephanie Clinkscale said her client had no recollection of the circumstances leading up to the crash and that he had fallen asleep. 

She said the dangerous driving had happened for a momentary period when he swerved onto the opposite carriageway.

Ms Clinkscale added there was no excessive speeding or alcohol involved.

A witness described how for no apparent reason Sinclair's pick-up truck swerved over the central reservation and into the opposite carriageway, colliding with a white Volkswagen car driven by 70-year-old Leslie Goodyer from Durham who was accompanied by his wife Shirley. 

They were trapped in the wreckage and spent time in hospital being treated for neck, hand and hip injuries.

The court was told both had received counselling due to the trauma of the crash. 

Sheriff Peter Paterson said cases such as this caused difficulties for a court when the consequences of the accused's actions were extremely serious for momentarily falling asleep.

He added: "In my view this is not a case which would attract a custodial sentence.”

Sinclair, of Waterloo Avenue, North Shields, was banned from the road for 20 months and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work.

He will also be required to re-sit the extended driving test.