North Wootton man takes claim to high court
A GIFTED lighting technician whose dreams of a career in the rock music industry were shattered in an horrific car crash told a top judge he could have made it to the top but for his devastating injuries.
Graham Leesmith (29), of Tyndale, North Wootton, had to have his left leg amputated at the knee in October 2003 after his motorcycle was hit by an oncoming car as he travelled along the A246 in Leatherhead, Surrey.
He also fractured two fingers on his right hand in the impact.
This week his case reached London's High Court, where he is pursuing a six-figure compensation claim against the insurers of Gordon Evans, of Overdale Road, New Malden, Surrey, the motorist involved in the collision.
The court heard that after a harrowing spell of recovery and rehabilitation, Mr Leesmith battled to save his dream career as a lighting technician in the rock industry but was eventually forced to relinquish his ambitions.
He said he would love to return to his chosen career but added: "I do not feel able to do the job which I would like to do in rock and roll due to my physical limitations now."
Mr Leesmith spent a year out of work due to his injuries but in June 2005 returned to seasonal lighting work at Great Yarmouth's Britannia Pier Theatre.
He now works as a lighting technician at a college in Norwich.
On Tuesday, defence counsel Stephen Grimes QC suggested there were other jobs "nearer the mainstream" he might turn his hand to, but Mr Leesmith said he had looked carefully into other possibilities outside the music business.
He added: "I do not think there is a lot else I could be doing."
Mr Grimes suggested he was also unable to show he could have been a high-flyer in his chosen career because he had not made a name for himself at the time of the crash.
He also said Mr Leesmith had never spent prolonged periods travelling overseas with a rock band to see how his dream career would suit him.
But the witness replied by stating he had gained experience of the entertainment scene during a six-month tour on a cruise ship, which gave him a useful insight into this world.
He told the court he believed he "had the potential" to reach the top of his profession before tragedy struck.
The issue of liability is not in dispute and the hearing is being held to determine exactly how much compensation Mr Leesmith should receive. The case continues.
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