A former Peel commissioner who lost control of his four-by-four and smashed head-on into an approaching car, seriously injuring the driver, has been given a suspended prison sentence.

The other driver described Rodger Mark Gimbert’s Hyundai Tucson as snaking out of control, crossing into her lane and hitting her Vauxhall Corsa so hard she had to be freed from it by the fire brigade.

James Robinson, for the prosecution, said 47-year-old Gimbert, of Derby Road in Peel, was heading towards Port St Mary on September 26 last year when his car careered out of control on Shore Road, colliding with the other vehicle going towards Castletown.

A witness described Gimbert’s car as going ’at speed’ and crossing both lanes.

’The other driver braked but realised it was going to hit head on in her own lane. There was a huge impact as it hit her on the passenger side, triggering both air bags,’ said Mr Robinson.

The other driver spent two weeks in hospital and suffered various injuries, including to her knees and abdomen.

Gimbert told police he had been driving for more than 20 years and knew Shore Road well because he travelled along it most days. He said he was returning to work in Port Erin, was not in a rush and was travelling no faster than usual. He added he could not remember details and could not speculate about the cause of the accident.

In a statement, he said he lost control on a bend and tried to correct it but was unable to. He said he did not believe his speed had been excessive but it must have been too quick for the conditions. He said he was sorry about what had happened and wished the other driver a speedy recovery.

He admitted causing serious bodily harm by careless or inconsiderate driving.

In a victim impact statement, the other driver said she had suffered two broken knees, a broken metatarsal, bruising and bleeding in her abdominal cavity. She had been temporarily confined to a wheelchair, her family had been inconvenienced and she suffered stress and anxiety. She did not know if she would be able to return to work as a dental nurse as it involved long periods of standing.

Defending Gimbert, Deborah Myerscough said he was of previous good character.

’He is truly sorry and ashamed to be before the court,’ she told the bench.

Magistrates’ chairman Pauline Cringle said: ’Whatever sentence we give can’t turn the clock back. We do not believe we are dealing with a momentary lapse of concentration. Two witnesses said you were driving at speed and as a result lost control.’

Gimbert received eight weeks’ custody suspended for one year. He was fined £1,000 with £125 costs and banned from driving for a year with a retest at the end.