JAILED: Man ploughed car into crowd outside Wolverhampton EDL haunt
A father has been jailed for driving his car into a crowd outside a Wolverhampton pub used by EDL members.
Matthew Cameron claimed he was 'very scared' that he was about to attacked by members of the far-right group because of his racial background.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard he ploughed into a group of men standing outside the Rookery Tavern in Lanesfield, a known EDL haunt.
He has now been jailed for two years after hitting Michael Comer and Amandeep Rai, leaving the latter with serious injuries.
The 27-year-old, of Parkfield Crescent, went to the pub in May last year looking for another man but was told by the landlord he wasn't there.
Mr Anthony Warner, prosecuting, said: "Matthew Cameron was excitable and clearly looking for someone and the landlord indicated that person was not there.
"He (Mr Cameron) said 'come to the car, I don't care who you are, I will kill you.'"
Cameron retreated to his red Ford Focus after being involved in an argument with a customer. A group of men then came out of the pub and began walking towards the car.
Cameron reversed out of the car park and revved his engine before ploughing the car at speed into the men, hitting Mr Rai and Mr Comer. He stopped further up the road before attempting to reverse back over Mr Rai, who was rescued from the car's path by other customer.
The Focus sped off, leaving Mr Rai with serious injuries including cuts to his knees, a fractured right knee and fractured vertebrae. He was given morphine by paramedics and was still conscious.
Cameron pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving and was sentenced to two years in prison.
He had previous convictions for threatening behaviour and assaulting a constable and had spent 24 weeks in prison.
Sentencing, judge Martin Walsh said it was 'fortuitous' that nobody was killed.
The Rookery Tavern, in Wood Road, was last month boarded up after closing suddenly.
