A drink-driver who seriously injured his passenger has been released on bail after appealing against his conviction.

John Wardman was jailed for six months last week for causing a crash that seriously injured his friend, Alex Doyle.

But yesterday the 29-year-old was released from custody after Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons ruled he could be bailed until his appeal was heard by the Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile prosecutors have also launched their own appeal against the sentence handed down to Wardman on the basis it was ‘manifestly inadequate’.

Both appeals will be heard by the Court of Appeal at a later date.

In the meantime Wardman has been ordered to surrender his travel documents and give the court notice of any change in circumstance.

In July Mr Wardman of Paget was convicted by a jury of causing a crash that seriously injured Mr Doyle while driving over the legal alcohol limit, drink-driving and failing to provide Mr Doyle with the necessaries of life.

Wardman was driving home with his brother Christopher Wardman and Mr Doyle after a night’s drinking in Hamilton when the accident happened.

The car struck two walls on Harbour Road and Manse Road on December 27, 2010, before coming to a halt, leaving Mr Doyle, who was travelling in the back seat, with bleeding in his brain and multiple skull fractures.

Tow truck driver Keith Richardson happened by the scene of the crash, where he said two men had asked him to tow the damaged car to a nearby housing estate.

While looking at the damage to the vehicle he noticed Mr Doyle bleeding profusely in the back seat and called for an ambulance. Wardman elected not to take the stand during his trial but told the court during a sentencing hearing last Monday that he didn’t speak to Mr Richardson, and both he and his brother had begun tending to Mr Doyle immediately after the collision.

“I can say without any doubt that had we known Alex was injured as badly as he was, we would have screamed for help and knocked on every door,” he told the court.

Dr Wardman’s legal team lodged its appeal against conviction after the jury had given its verdict.

Editor’s note: It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding on-going court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.