A SOUTHAMPTON police-man was left permanently brain damaged after a lorry was driven into the back of the unmarked police car he was driving, a court heard.

Det Con Stewart Vasey had pulled on to the hard shoulder of the M27 on the Hamble Bridge on the morning of November 11, 1998 when his Volkswagen Golf was struck by the lorry driven by Jean Milan-Amady.

Now, four years after the accident happened, Milan-Amady has appeared in court to answer a charge of careless driving.

Standing in the dock at Fareham Magistrates' Court, accompanied by an interpreter, the French driver listened as the full extent of the injuries to DC Vasey were read to the court.

Prosecuting Andrea Hills said: "Mr Vasey will need constant nursing care for the rest of his life, he has speech problems and needs help to wash and dress.

"He has no short-term memory and does not remember the time he and his wife had together and does not always remember her.

"He also does not know his son like any other father would."

She explained how at the time of the accident DC Vasey's wife Ann, who is still an officer with Hampshire police, was 37 weeks pregnant. DC Vasey, who was 36 at the time of the accident and working at the Hulse Road crime unit in Southampton, was taken to Queen Alexandra hospital were he underwent brain surgery. Milan-Amady, 45, of Villennes sur Seine, admitted the charge of careless driving.

The case took a long time to come to court because there was confusion over whether it should be held in a French court.

Milan-Amady thought the car was about to pull out from the hard shoulder on to the eastbound carriageway and had to swerve, the court was told. He was given nine points on his British licence,fined £250 for careless driving and ordered to pay £100 costs.