A DRINK driver who crashed into a motorcyclist causing life changing injuries has been convicted of two offences. 

Arunas Kirilka, aged 46 of Kennington Road, Oxford, was convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit when he appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Friday.

At around 5.50pm on 12 July, Kirilka was driving his black Volvo S60 on Oxford Road, Banbury, when he undertook another vehicle which was stationary at traffic lights near to the Horton Hospital.

As he pulled away, he lost control of his vehicle and careered into a central island, puncturing both offside tyres before colliding into the back of a motorbike.

The impact caused the motorcyclist to be removed from his vehicle and thrown into the back of a stationary vehicle.

The motorcyclist, a man in his forties, sustained a shattered pelvis, a shattered right shoulder and a punctured left lung. He required surgery and has been left with life-changing injuries.

Following the collision, Kirilka was breathalysed at the scene, where he blew 84 microgrammes per 100ml of breath. He was arrested and taken to custody, where his reading went up to 93 microgrammes per 100ml of breath on the evidential breathalyser machine (the legal limit is 35mg).

Kirilka pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit.

Following the court appearance, PC Neil Bowker of the Roads Policing Unit based at Bicester, said: "The victim in this case who has shown great courage since suffering from these life-changing injuries.

"This conviction shows how seriously we take dangerous driving and driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit. I hope this case once again reiterates the dangers of drink driving, and acts as a deterrent for those who choose to drive whilst over the limit."

Kirilka has been remanded in custody and will appear at Oxford Crown Court on 6 October for sentencing.