Court hears RAF airman injured five people when he fell asleep at the wheel
An RAF airman who injured five people when he fell asleep at the wheel and caused a three car horror crash has kept his freedom.
Corporal Gabriel Cousins was tired after a night of socialising to celebrate a promotion and watch an England football match when he started the journey from a hotel in Newcastle to RAF Spadeadam in Cumbria on December 11 2022.
Newcastle Crown Court heard as he travelled along the A69, about two miles east of Haydon Bridge in Northumberland, his BMW crossed into the opposite carriageway and hit two cars head-on.
The court heard a couple in an Audi A3, the first car that was hit, were previously keen walkers but suffered serious and life changing injuries that have left them both with mobility problems.
Three people in a VW Up suffered whiplash type injuries.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said all five were taken to the RVI in Newcastle.
The male driver of the Audi had injuries including a fractured shoulder, arm and pelvis while his partner, who had been in the passenger seat, suffered a bleed on the brain and clot on her lung.
Cousins told police at the scene: "When I woke up it had happened."
He confessed how early in the journey he had started to "drift off" and added: "I think it's more likely I fell asleep than a medical issue."
Mr Wardlaw said: "He made the decision to continue driving when obviously fatigued and aware of that fatigue."
Mr Wardlaw said there has been a "physical, psychological and financial impact" on the victims.
Cousins, 27, of RAF Leeming, Northallerton, North Yorks, admitted two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and three of causing bodily injury by wilful misconduct.
Judge Tom Moran said: "In short, you momentarily fell asleep causing a catastrophic collision.
"Terrible consequences follow when driving while tired. This could easily have been a case where were were dealing with multiple fatalities.
"Should this case attract any publicity, the only positive thing that can come of it is that the message has to go out loud and clear, whatever the distance of the journey, whatever the road, whatever the confidence of the driver being able to continue, they must not do so.
"Many people will be familiar with the feeling of becoming tired when driving and perhaps the temptation to press on, maybe deploying strategies to try and stay awake. It is a selfish and dangerous thing to do, it's a gamble and if you lose risks seriously harming or killing yourself or other people."
Judge Moran sentenced Cousins to two years, suspended for two years, with 300 hours unpaid work and a three year road ban.
The judge said Cousins poses a low risk of re-offending, low risk to the public generally and his absence from his role in the RAF could impact defence capabilities.
Eddison Flint, defending, handed in references to Cousins' positive character and said his promotion prospects have been put on hold while the proceedings have been active.
Mr Flint said Cousins has been in the RAF for nine years and is one of only four people in the country who can manage "above top secret" communications systems in areas of conflict.
Cousins also represents the RAF in their national basketball team and travels the world refereeing and competing.