On the evening of Saturday 2 September 2023, Patrick Quigley drove a pick-up truck to Canterbury where he consumed a quantity of alcohol.

He started his journey home on the following morning and, at around 6.45am, was seen driving erratically by another motorist near the city.

Then around 15 minutes later Quigley was travelling on the wrong side of the A252, The Street, near Molash, when he collided with the horsebox.

The driver of the horsebox suffered a broken ankle and went to hospital. Two children who were also in the vehicle and a dog were unharmed, however the horses sustained injuries.

Quigley also attended hospital for treatment to injuries where a blood sample was taken. Analysis estimated he had 132 milligrams per 100 millilitres of alcohol in his blood. This exceeded the legal limit of 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres. 

He was later charged and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink driving.

Quigley, 20, of Silver Mines, Cooleen, Nenagh, Tipperary, Ireland, was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday 4 July 2024 to 16 months’ imprisonment.

He will also be disqualified from driving for three years on his release from prison.

Investigating officer, PC Daniel Goodman, said: ‘Quigley’s decisions that night led to a serious collision which could have ended in tragedy, and it is by sheer luck that nobody was more seriously hurt.

‘Drink-driving is reckless, ruins lives and puts innocent motorists and members of the public at risk of serious injury. Kent Police takes this criminality seriously and regularly carries out stop checks to ensure those behind the wheel are fit to be driving.’