A DRIVER who overtook a lorry on a humpback bridge on the A65 near Gargrave – crossing solid white lines and hitting another car – is facing a possible jail sentence after being found guilty of dangerous driving.

Twana Khoshnaw, 33, tried to overtake even though his vision was obstructed by the crest of Holme Bridge, there was a blind right-hand bend, and it was dark at 8.30pm on December 2 last year, Skipton magistrates heard on Tuesday.

Sentencing was adjourned for reports, with magistrates imposing an interim driving ban and warning Khoshnaw, from Leeds, he faces a high level community sentence or, possibly, custody.

The court heard Khoshnaw, who is on his way home after driving a friend to work at a care home, drove his white Volvo S40 into an oncoming Nissan Qashqai, spinning it 90 degrees, and also colliding with the lorry, causing a high level of damage to all three vehicles and also the stone bridge.

Fortunately, the driver of the Qashqai and his daughter, who was in the front seat, the Polish lorry driver and Khoshnaw himself were un-injured.

Speaking in court with the help of a Kurdish interpreter, Khoshnaw said his view of the road markings had been obscured by water spray from the lorry wheels and that he had tried to pull back, but was unable to do so because the lorry driver had also slowed.

He admitted in court he was responsible for the accident, that he had been reckless and would not forget it for the rest of his life, but denied his driving had been dangerous.

"My driving was not dangerous. I couldn't put my life or anyone else's at risk," he said.

Alia Khokhar, in defence, said Khoshnaw accepted his driving had fallen 'below' standards expected of a careful and competent driver, making him a careless driver, but not 'far below', making him a dangerous driver.

But prosecuting, Alison Whiteley, accused Khoshnaw of damage limitation and changing his story from the interview he gave to police, in an attempt to lessen his punishment.

Magistrates told Khoshnaw, of Shakespeare Lawn in Leeds, his version of events had changed from the interview he gave to police 18 days after the accident to what he said in court. They added evidence of all three witnesses had been consistent and credible, but that in his credit, he was man of previous good character and had co-operated with police.

Sentencing was adjourned until May 13.