Driver spared jail after man falls from toilet lorry in Dales on Horrible Histories film set

Adam Vines suffered a fractured skull and brain swelling after he fell from the back of a lorry driven by his colleague Thomas Prothero, 30.

They had been at a production party in Wensleydale, and Prothero later told police he had drunk 10 vodka and cokes and two jagerbombs before getting behind the wheel, Teesside Crown Court heard.

After partying for almost six hours with around 30 members of the production crew at the Bolton Arms pub, Prothero drove a gully sucker lorry - used for emptying toilets - back to their accommodation at Bolton Castle where they were working on a film version of the Horrible Histories TV series, based on the life of the young William Shakespeare.

Mr Vines asked to stop in a country lane so he could relieve himself and then would not get back in the cab, but jumped on the back, the court heard.

Prothero, who worked for Set Location Services, pulled away slowly and a short while later stopped to try to persuade his friend to get back in the cab, but he was not there.

A police officer, who had been alerted by someone believing there were diesel thieves in the area, found the lorry and Mr Vines lying bleeding in the road, said Dan Cordey, prosecuting.

Mr Vines was induced in a coma and required two weeks of hospital treatment but has now made a full recovery.

Prothero initially lied about his involvement, telling police he had got a lift back from the pub and went to look for his friend when he failed to come back to the accommodation.

But he eventually told the truth, and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

Prothero, of Royston, Cambridgeshire, was given a suspended 18 month jail sentence, ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and was banned from driving for a year.

Jonathan Harley, defending, said: “There probably is nothing the court could do that could come anywhere near to what he feels for having almost killed one of his best friends.

“He will live with that for the rest of his life.”

He said his client’s actions were “stupid in the extreme”.

Judge Howard Crowson said the case was unusual as it did not involve high speed, going through red traffic lights or driving against the traffic.

The risk involved was taken by Prothero and Mr Vines, the judge said.

“It may well have been influenced by the good deal of drink that had been consumed,” the judge said.

Because of Prothero’s good character, his guilty plea and genuine remorse, the jail sentence could be suspended, the judge said.