Jail for joy rider who left victim with 'life changing' injuries

Talwinder Sandhu had taken a friend's Peugeot 308 without permission and had cannabis in his system when he ploughed into Robert Wylde sending the 42-year-old cartwheeling into the air, a judge heard.

The 22-year-old driver was travelling at no more than 40 mph in a 30 limit when he inexplicably lost control, went onto the wrong side of the road and mounted the pavement, hitting the victim who was speaking on his mobile phone at the time, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The car then hurtled into the side of the Wizard and Glass pub in Cradley Road, Cradley Heath damaging decking and brickwork. Sandhu was badly hurt and trapped in the wreckage.

"He was hanging out of the driver's door with his legs trapped inside while Mr Wylde suffered life changing injuries," revealed Mr Mark Phillips, prosecuting.

The pedestrian, who was taken to hospital and put in an induced coma for four days, broke both legs, his left ankle, right knee, right arm and fractured his spine. He spent six weeks in hospital and is still suffering the effects of the incident that happened around 9pm on November 18.

He has since undergone ten operations and now has metal plates in both his back and left arm and 17 screws in his right knee as well as suffering psychological after effects.

Mr Phillips continued: "A reconstruction of the crash by experts concluded that the defendant was not driving any faster than 40 mph when he lost control and mounted the pavement. We do not know why."

Sandhu was taken to court after treatment to his injuries and received an interim driving ban after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Incredibly just three weeks later he was caught driving erratically at the wheel of another car - a Ford Focus on false plates.

Mr Bernard Porter, defending, said: "He has little or no memory of the crash. He took the Peugeot without permission and was just enjoying the thrill of driving - something he was not capable of doing. There is no medical or mechanical explanation for the accident."

Sandhu from Blowers Green Road, Dudley also pleaded guilty to having neither insurance nor driving licence, breaking the terms of a suspended sentence imposed 11 days before the accident for permitting the production of cannabis and driving when disqualified three weeks after receiving the interim ban.

He was jailed for a total of three years two months and will be banned from driving for three years from the date of his release. Judge Mark Eades told him: "You took a car and went on a joy ride. Nobody seems to know how you had the crash but you drove down the wrong side of the road and onto the pavement causing significant and serious injury to Mr Wylde."

The victim said in a statement: "I was just on my phone and the next thing I knew I woke up in hospital. I am still suffering from the injuries and am nowhere near as mobile as I was. Day to day life has changed totally. I will walk with a permanent limp and never ride a bike again. To be honest, I am just happy to be alive and to have a second chance at life."