An investment banker who injured three women in a head-on crash while driving on the wrong side of the road has been spared jail.

John Spayne’s Audi A4 was said to have been like a “guided missile” as it hurtled towards an oncoming Land Rover along Stone Street in Canterbury.

The accident left three generations of the same family hurt, with an 89-year-old grandmother spending two weeks in hospital with nine broken ribs and a deep cut to her stomach.

Spayne, who blamed the accident on a “momentary lapse of concentration”, narrowly avoided prison when he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.

Prosecuting, Max Reeves told how Wendy Spain, her daughter, Natalie Spain, and mother, Violet McLagan, were returning from a day of shopping at the time of the crash on June 24, 2022.

“As part of her way home, Wendy Spain drove down Stone Street - a semi-rural single lane road,” said Mr Reeves.

“She noticed a dark Audi travelling over the white line, heading straight towards her. She expected the car to return to its lane, but it did not.

“The vehicles collided head-on. Airbags deployed and Ms Spain’s vehicle was pushed backwards and came to rest on a patch of grass next to the road.”

All three women were left battered and bruised, but Ms McLagan - aged 89 at the time - sustained the most serious injuries.

The court was told 64-year-old Spayne had applied his brakes but could not avoid the crash, and immediately called for an ambulance.

“After the collision, Mr Spayne briefly spoke to [Wendy] Spain and explained he had been distracted by his car’s radio,” added Mr Reeves.

“He described it as a very momentary lapse of concentration.”

In a victim impact statement read aloud at the sentencing hearing, Wendy Spain recalled the harrowing experience.

“His large, dark car was like a guided missile being launched at my car,” said the 65-year-old.

“There was no evasive action I could possibly have taken to avoid the crash.

“He obviously didn’t set out to hurt anyone, but he certainly did.”

“His large, dark car was like a guided missile being launched at my car...”

Wendy Spain told how her mother spent two weeks at William Harvey Hospital, where she underwent a blood transfusion and later developed an infection in her stomach.

“I became my mother’s 24/7 nurse, even as I was recovering from my own injuries,” she continued.

“She used to be very active and loved to travel to different Kentish towns on the bus, now she stays in bed late into the morning and then watches TV.”

Natalie Spain - a front-seat passenger at the time of the crash - had married just a week before.

She suffered two broken fingers and bruising to her stomach, describing in her statement the considerable discomfort this caused.

“My breathing has been painful and my sleep has been difficult,” said the 41-year-old.

“My new husband had to look after me, washing my hair. I needed help even with simple tasks like opening a packet of crisps.

“Because of my injuries, I was off work for eight weeks, which dropped me into sick pay.”

As a radiographer at William Harvey, Natalie Spain said that when she did return to work, she could not bear to walk by the A&E ward as it was too emotionally triggering.

“Instead of thinking about honeymoons, I was having to visit my nana in hospital,” she added.

Spayne - the chairman of mergers and acquisitions specialists Spayne Lindsay & Co - attended court in a suit and tie and remained silent throughout proceedings.

Mitigating, Wajahat Sherwani, told the court her client had no previous convictions nor points on his driving licence.

She explained the accident followed a period of tragedy in his life, with Spayne having lost his wife to motor neurone disease less than a year before.

“On the day of the collision, for a moment, he must have just completely gone somewhere else,” said Ms Sherwani.

“He doesn’t misconceive this as an explanation. Of all people, Mr Spayne understands the pain of long-term health issues.

“He is extremely remorseful about the serious injuries he caused the main victim in this case and the pain and devastation he’s caused her family.”

Spayne, of Rectory Lane, Hythe, previously admitted one charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, in relation to Ms McLagan.

On Friday, Judge Edmond Fowler handed him a sentence of 10 months imprisonment, but suspended the term for a year.

Spayne was also banned from driving for the next two years and will need to take an extended retest to regain his licence.

Speaking after the sentencing, Wendy Spain told KentOnline she was glad Spayne was not put behind bars.

“[The sentence] was what we expected,” she said.

“We didn’t want him to go to prison because we wanted him to reflect on the impact of his actions on our family.

“I’m disappointed it’s taken three years, but it is what it is.”