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Author: Matt Drake
Updated at 18:44 on February 16, 2024, updated at 18:46 on February 16, 2024
An architect crashed his yacht into rocks after drinking “at least” one bottle of wine, seriously injuring three passengers, a court heard.
The devastating accident left passengers “covered in blood” and some were “lucky not to be paralyzed”.
Ian Sullivan, described as an experienced skipper, avoided jail after pleading guilty at Portsmouth Crown Court today to charges of failing to maintain a proper lookout and failing to drive at a safe speed.
On September 24, 2022, he and his entourage set off from Avon Pier in Christchurch, Dorset, and anchored in Colwell Bay, Isle of Wight, where they enjoyed a day of eating and drinking.
Sullivan had been drinking “steadily” and spent the evening at a bar.
The 56-year-old, who runs his own successful construction company, decided to drive his entourage home in his £200,000 cruiser.
The “idiot” father-of-four had a “willful disregard” for the dangers of driving in his state when he drove his spotlight at 20 knots (23mph) before crashing into a car in Totland Bay, Isle of Wight Hidden Coast.
The court heard Sullivan was driving “out of his comfort zone” in the dark.
Prosecutor Thabo Irozu said this meant he did not realize it was best to sail without lights to allow his eyes to “adapt” to the darkness, which was standard practice
A Coast Guard helicopter was needed to evacuate two passengers, one of whom suffered a fractured spine, to the mainland for treatment.
Passengers Greg Mills, Grace Mills and Marina Webster are understood to have admitted they would not have got in the car with him if he was driving.
Summing up the case, Judge Newton-Price KC said: “You are the owner of the Sully.
“On September 24, 2022, you admitted operating an aircraft in an unsafe manner and causing serious injury to three passengers.
“You, your partner and friends left Avon Marina around noon and anchored in Colwell Bay at 12.30pm.
“You had a meal and everyone drank during and after the meal.
“You were steering the boat and your night vision was impaired.
“Traveling at about 20 knots, you reach the coast of Totland Bay, apparently without slowing down.”
The court heard one witness said “look at that bloody idiot running so fast, he can hit anything”.
Judge Newton-Price KC told Sullivan: “You should have reduced your speed or stopped – your judgment was impaired by alcohol.”
“You claimed you had four drinks during the day, but you said you were not drunk and you said it was a complete accident.
“You drank at the bar during and after the meal.
“Everyone here was affected to some degree – you drank slowly, but you kept drinking.
“You must have had at least one bottle of wine during that time and passengers said they would not get on the bus with you.”
He said that while “there are no alcohol restrictions for seafarers”, the guidance states to “avoid alcohol as this may impair judgment”.
“If an experienced sailor had never been drinking, I would not have thought this would happen,” he continued.
“I can’t make a precise assessment, but I do believe that this impairment caused by alcohol is a significant contributing factor.”
He continued: “You continued to drink alcohol over several hours, deliberately turning a blind eye to the danger but still taking the risk.
“As an experienced seaman, you accept that you shouldn’t be doing this and let your eyes adjust.”
However, the judge told Sullivan that his 18 weeks in jail would be suspended for a year.
He said: “I could suspend the sentence if I thought you had a realistic view of recovery – which I could do in your case.”
Sullivan was also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, pay £20,000 in legal costs and could be subject to a further compensation order if the passenger takes legal action.
The judge added: “It is likely that potential claims will be made by those injured in this incident and the civil courts would be in a better position to assess offers of damages if civil proceedings were to be brought.”
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