County Durham woman, 80, banned from roads after serious crash on A181

An 80-year-old woman in County Durham has been banned from driving for 12 months after pleading guilty to causing serious injury in a road crash on the A181. Elsie Johnson of Hilltop Bungalows, Thornley, appeared at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on July 13. She admitted responsibility for causing serious injury by driving a Peugeot 208 without due care and attention at Thornley on May 6, 2025, after a motorcyclist was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries. The court imposed a 26-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months, citing a “reasonable prospect of rehabilitation.” Johnson was also ordered to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £154 victim services surcharge, with a collection order covering the financial penalties.