A WEYMOUTH man says his life has been left in ruins by a fatal accident with a drunken teenager who walked in front of his car.

Colin Smith, 60, suffered a broken neck and back in the collision 18 months ago and has gone from earning £40,000 a year as a contract engineer to struggling on £65.25 benefits a week.

His troubles have now worsened because the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has cut his allowance for a second time.

Mr Smith and his wife Dorothy, 71, say they cannot even afford furniture.

The fatal crash on May 1 2010, occurred when Poole teenager Samuel Gunstone ‘suddenly appeared’ in the middle of the A31 bypass and Mr Smith had no time to stop.

A district coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death, after hearing that 18-year-old Samuel had attended a party in West Moors and was intoxicated.

Mr Smith said: “It wasn’t my fault yet the government has treated me like a piece of garbage. I’ve been treated as a criminal not a victim.

“My back was broken in two places and I had three fractures to my neck. I had to stop working.

“The DWP first stopped my benefits last Christmas, with no explanation.

“Then they cancelled our housing benefit by telling the council I was working, which also stopped my wife’s pension credit.

“They said I was earning but I was changing from statutory sick pay to an employment and support allowance. “We didn’t get our heating allowance until May.”

He added: “Things were finally sorted out but now they’ve stopped my benefits again.

“They say I’m fit for work but I can hardly walk.”

Mr Smith previously took home £1,600 a fortnight as a contract engineer.

Since the crash he has been on £188.50 a fortnight benefits, now dropped to £130.50 pending an appeal.

This week the Smiths moved from a rented furnished two-bedroom flat to a one-bedroom bungalow in Wyke Road, aided by the Jonathan and Rebecca Edwards Charity.

He said: “We’re struggling – we can’t even afford any furniture.

“Because I’ve always worked on contract we’ve always just rented furnished apartments.

“The government told us to move, so we did and we’re saving them £2,282.84 a year in rent difference – but they won’t help us.

“Weymouth Council has been ever so good and helped us to apply for a contingency grant.

“The problem is DWP and they hang up when I call.

“This is a case of being kicked when you’re down.”

A DWP spokesman said: “We are reforming the welfare system to ensure no one is left trapped on benefits.

“If someone can no longer do the job they used to do, the Work Capability Assessment looks at what other kinds of work they may be able to do.

“People who are too sick or disabled will receive our unconditional support and those who are able to work will get the help they need to find a new job.

“Anyone who disagrees with their assessment can appeal and present further evidence.”