Carmel Muscat, a 64-year-old motorist who three years ago caused a horrific crash in Mġarr after he ignored a 'stop' sign was today fined €2,500 by a court.

The incident, in May 2013, left the woman who was behind the wheel of the approaching car with a three per cent disability due to the grievous injuries she sustained as she swerved to avoid Muscat's car. Her car was destroyed beyond repair after she crashed into a wall.

Subsequently Mr Muscat was accused of negligent driving, failing to observe a stop sign, damaging the woman’s car which belonged to a third party, and grievously injuring the woman.

In its decision, the court, presided by Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, noted the big discrepancies in the version of events given by the two parties.

While the victim argued that she was forced to do an evasive manoeuvre after seeing the accused’s car at the last moment, the defendant claimed that he saw the woman’s car approaching from his side mirror while he was turning a corner and accelerated to avoid impact.

He also noted that after the crashed he stopped and went to assist the woman. He argued she was to blame for the accident because she was speeding, only seeing him when it was too late as a result.

The court, however, expressed its disagreement with the accused and noted there was circumstantial evidence which contradicted his version of events. It pointed out that it was hard to reconcile the man’s claims with the police sketch.

The defendant had failed to keep a proper lookout and this led to the accident, the court concluded.

The court ordered the suspension of the man's driving licence for three months.