Driver who wedged lorry under M5 gantry admits it was ‘careless’

In his closing arguments, Mr Nelson, defending , said Mr Baker was “not a dishonest man”, but told the jury “if we are honest with ourselves, none of us are perfect drivers”.

He said the crash involving the gantry “was a dangerous situation, obviously”, but this did not necessarily mean “the manner he [Mr Baker] was driving in was dangerous”.

Meanwhile, Mr Yates, prosecuting, said: “It would have been the easiest thing in the world” for Mr Baker to have checked the back of the lorry was down before he left the site.

He reminded the jury that to meet the threshold of dangerous driving the prosecution had to prove it was “more than everyday” carelessness.

“The prosecution says it is far more than that,” he said.

The jury is expected to begin deliberations tomorrow.