Drink driving doctor left cabbie with serious injuries following Tyneside crash
A drunk doctor left a cabbie with serious injuries when he caused a head-on collision while more than twice the limit.
Registrar Nayer Youakim, who is training to be a consultant, drove onto the wrong side of the Coast Road in North Shields, North Tyneside, and smashed into a taxi at just before midnight on November 24.
Newcastle Crown Court heard when asked by police at the scene if he had been drinking, the medic, who appeared dazed and under the influence, confessed "not too much, two pints".
Tests at the roadside and in custody showed Youakim, who performs operations at hospitals in Cumbria, had 72 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath, with the limit being 35 micrograms.
Prosecutor Lucy Todd said the cabbie had just dropped off a fare before heading home and added: "He became dazed by headlights coming towards him before being crashed into."
The court heard the taxi spun into the opposite side of the road and Youakim's vehicle ended up on the pavement.
Miss Todd said: "Officers attended and spoke to the driver of the vehicle, the defendant, he appeared dazed and under the influence, stating he was heading to the Coast Road when the other vehicle came into his path."
Miss Todd said the taxi driver was taken to hospital with a fractured shoulder and arm, swollen hip and suspected broken ribs.
In an impact statement the victim said he was angered by what happened and faces a long road to recovery but added: "I feel very lucky to be alive."
Youakim, 37, of Lady Byron Lane, Solihull, West Midlands, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink driving.
Mr Recorder Mark McKone KC told him: "You are an ear, nose and throat registrar, a doctor performing surgery in three hospitals, you have done a lot of good for many people.
"You are training to be a consultant. Your status as a doctor is uncertain and your training as a consultant would end if you were sent to prison.
"I accept you are more likely to be suspended or struck off by the GMC if you were sent to immediate custody.
"I am sure you will learn from being arrested and coming to court and not offend again.
"You have got very strong personal mitigation, a lack of previous convictions and important work as a doctor.
"Custody would have a harmful impact on others, you are not married and you have no children but custody could have a major impact upon future patients."
Youakim, who is based at Carlisle but also works at Whitehaven and Penrith, was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years with 250 hours unpaid work, £150 costs and a two year road ban with extended test requirement.
Laura Miller, defending, said it was an "extraordinary lapse of judgement" and added: "At the time he didn't deem himself to be on the wrong side of the carriageway, of course that is incorrect, we know that is incorrect but in the moment he wasn't trying to deliberately mislead anyone as to what happened."
Miss Miller said Youakim has genuine remorse and empathy and has sought help to understand what made him drink and then drive that night.
She added: "It was an isolated incident very much out of character for him."