Southampton taxi driver Raj Sangha fined £2,000 for crash which injured Jasmein Chahal

Now teenage car crash victim Jasmein Chahal has spoken of her anger at the £2,000 fine given to the taxi driver behind the accident, which she says has ruined her life.

“It’s disgusting,” said Jasmein, 17, who feels the crash left her “unrecognisable” and turned her into a virtual recluse.

“He nearly killed me and changed the way I look forever.

He’s just got to pay a bit of money and then he can forget all about it.

“He’s hardly being punished but I’m being punished for the rest of my life.

“What kind of message does that send other drivers? He should have his licence taken away but instead it’s like he’s got away with it.”

Jasmein was returning from her grandfather’s house last April when the Peugeot she was travelling in was involved in a head on collision with the taxi driven by Raj Sangha, 49.

Jasmein’s brother, cousin and sister (who was driving) all escaped with minor injuries but Jasmein, then 15, was hurled against the dashboard, breaking her spine and seriously injuring her face.

No explanation has been found for the taxi’s sudden drifting across the Avenue, in Southampton, and the car was scrapped before defence experts could inspect it.

Sangha, who also works as an IT consultant in the rapid response team for the Portsmouth National Health Trust, said he “dabbed” his brakes but they didn’t work and his car veered across the path of the Peugeot.

The father-of-three from Spear Road Southampton admitted driving without due care and attention but pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving, which the prosecution at Southampton Crown Court accepted.

As well as the fine he was ordered to pay £350 costs.

However, Jasmein from Chandler’s Ford says she is still paying for the accident which has destroyed her self-confidence.

Following several rounds of surgery to rebuild her shattered face – including three nose jobs, metal plates in her cheeks and wires to realign her jaw – she is struggling to come to terms with her new appearance and found it too distressing to be photographed.

She still has flashbacks of the crash.

“I remember seeing the car coming towards us and then I must have passed out.

“I woke up outside the car. All I wanted was my mum but when I tried to cry out for her I couldn’t move my mouth properly – I know now that my jaw was broken.”

Slipping back into unconsciousness, Jasmein was rushed to Southampton General Hospital.

“I know I’m lucky to be alive.

My parents were told that if I didn’t wake up within 24 hours the situation would be critical.”

After two weeks confined to a hospital bed Jasmein was fitted with a back brace.

“I had to wear it for six weeks and had it on when I went for my school leavers assembly. I felt like a fool – really embarrassed.”

Jasmein was unable to sit her GCSEs last year and missed out on her school prom because of the accident.

She is now studying at Taunton’s College and hopes to become a social worker.

“All my friends are in the year above. I feel like I’m left behind.

“Since the accident I don’t really go out. I even spent my 16th birthday at home. I feel like I’m hiding.”

Unable to accept her appearance, Jasmein is now seeing a psychologist.

“I used to be really outgoing but now I retreat into my shell. I feel like my whole personality has changed because of this.”

She gestures to her nose.

“All I want is my nose the way it used to be. At my cousin’s wedding I hid when it was time for the photos. I hate looking at myself or seeing myself on camera.

“The whole experience has made me more nervous. I’m not comfortable being in crowds of people.

“I used to love playing football but now I’m scared something might happen to my face.”

A third operation to reshape her nose will, she hopes, improve things.

“I used to sleep with old photos of myself under my pillow or stare at my sister’s face and wish I could look like that again.

“I always torture myself thinking, what if I hadn’t got into that car?

“Since the accident I can’t sleep properly. My back is still damaged and I have physiotherapy every week. Doctors tell me I will always experience back problems.

“I have a lot of angry moments and mood swings and I think about the accident every day.

“I’m working on accepting what’s happened and I know I’m lucky to be here at all.

Thankfully I was wearing a seatbelt.

“I realise life’s too short to waste it by sitting at home feeling depressed but I can’t seem to help it.

“This was the toughest experience of my life.

“Just because of one dangerous driver my life has been totally scarred.”

Road safety charity Brake agrees that penalties for driving offences must match the seriousness of the injuries caused by the driver.

Spokesman Katharine Hartley said: “Anything less is complete injustice for the victims who have suffered injuries which have completely changed their lives.”