A DEFENDANT jointly accused of causing the death of a Weymouth man by dangerous driving has left the country, jurors have been told.

Adrian Wojciechowski, 29, and Thomas Russell, 39, deny causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. A trial is currently taking place at Bournemouth Crown Court.

David Grant-Jones, 49, from Weymouth, was killed in the crash on the A35 Puddletown Bypass on July 14 last year.

While the jury were told at the start of the case that Wojciechowski, of Surrey, was absent from the proceedings, they were not told any details.

They have now been told by prosecutor Simon Jones that Wojciechowski, who was driving the white BMW which collided with Mr Grant-Jones’ Land Rover Freelander in the fatal crash, appears to have left the UK via the Channel Tunnel.

Jurors heard the defendant is believed to have travelled through France and Germany and is currently believed to be in Poland.

However, details of a toxicology report on Wojciechowski’s blood were presented as part of the trial.

Through this, it was determined that he had THC, the primary active component of cannabis, in his system at the time of the crash.

The jury was told that the amount specified in the toxicology report was “just above the drug driving limit for cannabis,” but that “the presence of drugs alone does not in itself demonstrate impairment.”

The trial continues.