A JUNIOR doctor ploughed his car into an oncoming vehicle killing an elderly driver.

Stamatios Tzanninis lost his concentration for a matter of seconds and slid onto the wrong side of the A338 Salisbury Road, a court heard.

His red Vauxhall Astra hit an oncoming Toyota Aygo driven by Malcolm Reynolds which flipped on its side and then ended up in a ditch.

Prosecution barrister, Kim Preston, told how the 82-year-old was trapped in his car and needed to be cut out before being rushed to hospital in Southampton.

Salisbury Journal: Malcolm ReynoldsMalcolm Reynolds

However, “once examined, it was clear he had sustained a critical injury to his spine”, she added.

The pensioner, of Allenwater Drive, Fordingbridge, was told he would not survive his injuries and died the next day.

During a police interview, Tzanninis, 31, said he could not understand how the accident, which happened between Breamore and Downton, had occurred at all.

Ms Preston, said: “The defendant was out on a day trip with his girlfriend travelling around the parts of the South. And the victim in this case, Mr Reynolds, was driving his Toyota Aygo, unfortunately on the same road.”

Tzanninis, of West Street, Salisbury, reported feeling drowsy shortly after they started driving - the crown prosecution service took the view this was reckless.

The court heard how he told his girlfriend he believed he had fallen asleep during the crash which happened on June 19 last year.

In victim personal statements read out by Mr Reynold’s son and daughter, they described him as an active and loving father and grandfather who had plans to visit his brother in Australia.

His daughter said: “Your reckless actions have caused so much grief and so much sorrow.”

Appearing before Southampton Crown Court, Tzanninis was charged with causing death by careless driving to which he previously pleaded guilty.

Defending, David Richards said: “There is nothing that can compensate for the loss suffered by those who loved Mr Reynolds.”

He read an apology letter on his defendant’s behalf which said: “I am sorry for what I have caused Mr Reynolds. I am sorry for what I caused to you. I am sorry for the tears and sadness that I brought.”

Mr Richards stressed: “This was careless driving for a matter of seconds.”

He added that Tzanninis lost his concentration.

Judge Nicholas Rowland said Tzanninis devoted his life helping others working as a junior hospital doctor in Salisbury.

He was given an 18-month community order to include 180 hours of unpaid work.

He will be disqualified from driving for 12 months.

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