A FORMER police officer has avoided losing his licence after a crash left a mother with life-changing injuries.

Peter Gerald Killick, 57, from Manchester, was driving on the coast road, near Ulverston, when he veered onto the other side of the road. His VW Golf collided head-on with another car on February 26 earlier this year.

Mr Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said: "Killick sustained minor injuries and the second driver had chest and stomach injuries.

"A three-year-old child was in the back seat and sustained minor head injuries, but its mother had more serious injuries.

"She was taken to the critical care unit at Blackburn, and all parties involved were taken to hospital."

Appearing at Furness Magistrates' Court on August 23, Killick was handed six penalty points, but avoided losing his licence, despite already having six points from two previous speeding tickets.

Ms Georgina Goring, defending, said: "This has been hanging over him as he goes about his daily life.

"Shortly before this accident he'd had a break and was refreshed. It seems to have been a momentary lapse in concentration. It's incredibly frustrating for him because he can't explain it."

Killick had been an officer with Greater Manchester police for eight years. He then went on to work as a serious fraud officer for BT and then as security at Manchester Airport.

Killick, who lives with his elderly mother-in-law, said: "During my time with GMP we were taught to drive to police standard levels and when I left I was required to keep it up as part of my job.

"I've been driving since I was 17 and I've never had an accident. My job now requires extremely anti-social hours, sometimes starting at 4am, and I've made enquiries into public transport but there's nothing that can get me there on time.

"I was unemployed for three years before I got this job and in my experience, in those dismal years when my life was collapsing around me I found there was an ageism in the market.

"My mother-in-law is 80 and took me in when I had nowhere else to go. I moved in shortly after my father died. I drive her to her appointments."

District judge Gerald Chalk said: "I won't disqualify you because your job will be impractical without a licence and this will also impact an innocent third party."

Killick pleaded guilty to one charge of driving without due care and attention. As well as the added points, he was fined £200 and ordered to pay £30 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.