A smirking driver who ruined a grandfather’s life after ploughing into him head-on at high speed has been jailed for five years.
Ethan Loveridge, 20, seriously hurt Martin Howells in a ‘horrific’ crash in August 2024.
Musician Mr Howells, 50, suffered life-changing injuries in the crash which stopped him playing his beloved guitar and meant he missed the birth of a grandchild, a court heard.
Loveridge grinned as police took his mugshot.
Newport Crown Court heard Loveridge lost control of the Kia Sorento on the A468 in Caerphilly when he clipped another car, veered across the road and hit Mr Howells’ vehicle head on.
Horrific video shows the Kia hurtling towards the victim’s vehicle.
Loveridge’s car ended up on its side, while Mr Howells remained injured inside his vehicle as passers-by attempted to help him.
Mr Howells suffered numerous injuries including: broken ribs, a broken nose and a detached bicep. He also suffered nerve damage.
Ethan Loveridge, 20, seriously hurt Martin Howells in a ‘horrific’ crash in August 2024
Newport Crown Court heard Loveridge lost control of the Kia Sorento on the A468 in Caerphilly when he clipped another car, veered across the road and hit Mr Howells’ vehicle head on
Pictured here are stills from the head on smash involving Ethan Loveridge and Martin Howells
In a victim impact statement he said: ‘It was a horrific crash that has changed my life forever.
‘I had difficulties with my fingers which has prevented me from playing guitar which is something I love to do.
‘I have been diagnosed with PTSD and underwent eight months of psychological therapy.’
The victim went on to say that his grandson was born six weeks after the crash, but that he was unable to fully enjoy his arrival because of his injuries.
Loveridge stayed at the crash scene but denied driving the car, telling police a man called ‘Owen’ was behind the wheel and had fled.
He was also sentenced for a string of drug offences after he and his then girlfriend Elise Humphreys, 21, were stopped in a Ford Mondeo on June 26, 2025.
Officers found cannabis and cash and drug messages on their mobile phones despite being seen discarding items from the car.
Their phones were seized and messages revealed they had been involved in supplying cocaine and cannabis for six months.
A search of the couple’s homes uncovered 810g of cannabis worth £8,000.
Alice Sykes, defending Loveridge, said he was ‘remorseful’ and initially lied about driving ‘out of fear’.
Loveridge pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, possession with intent to supply a class B drug, being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs, and possession of criminal property.
Recorder John Philpotts told him: ‘You are well aware of the potential consequences of a head-on collision of the sort you caused. In fact you are fortunate there was no fatality in this case.’
Loveridge was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for four years.
Loveridge will need to undertake another test before driving again.
Humphreys was sentenced to a 12-month community order and was ordered to carry out a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a six-month trial monitoring requirement.
