A former British Army soldier has secured a £4.16m settlement for injuries he suffered in a Land Rover crash whilst serving with his Regiment.

Alan Ashton, 34, was a Lance Corporal in the Parachute Regiment when the accident occurred in August 2001. He was a passenger in an Army Land Rover travelling through Essex when the driver lost control of the vehicle. It left the road, hit the verge, then rolled several times, throwing Mr Ashton out. Unfortunately, he was not wearing a seatbelt, which is common practice in the Army.

Mr Ashton was paralysed from the chest down and suffered severe head injuries. He also contracted MRSA during his time in hospital. As a result, he developed severe pressure sores and eventually had to have his left hip surgically removed. He also suffered epileptic fits.

Following the accident, Mr Ashton has lost almost all of the vision in one eye and the sight in his other eye is threatened. His normal functioning is restricted by severe cognitive problems. These include difficulty in concentrating, a restricted short-term memory, a reduced intellect and he also tires easily. He now requires 24-hour care and will not be able to work again.

The Ministry of Defence accepted liability for the accident three years ago, but the extent of Mr Ashton’s injuries had to be established before the level of damages could be assessed. The award was set at £5.2m, reduced by 20 per cent because Mr Ashton was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred.