Disabled man reliant on care after being mowed down by teen in stolen car
A teenager has been jailed for mowing down a disabled man on a mobility scooter before fleeing the scene, leaving his victim with multiple fractures.
David Hale suffered life-changing injuries, describing his existence as a “living nightmare”, after being struck by 18-year-old Mohammed Mahmood who was driving a stolen car in Smethwick last year.
He was crossing Montague Road when Mahmood turned into the street at speed on the wrong side of the road, and ploughed into the scooter.
Wolverhampton Crown Court was shown dashcam footage of the incident in which the wheels of the defendant’s Skoda Octavia are seen to lift as the car drove over Mr Hale’s body.
“Having driven over Mr Hale, he simply carried on driving, totally failing to stop,” said Mr David Swinnerton, prosecuting.
It was said Mahmood panicked and drove off, knowing the new £15,000 car was stolen, abandoning it about a mile from the scene. He had bought it days earlier for just £350.
Mr Hale spent 10 weeks in hospital being treated for fractures to his skull, cheekbone, nose, pelvis and four ribs, as well as a punctured lung and spinal injuries.
His quality of life had been “completely destroyed”, said Mr Swinnerton.
Before the collision on October 3 last year, the victim was able to walk unaided for short distances and climb stairs, the court heard.
But in an impact statement he told how he could no longer live an independent life or play with his grandchildren.
He had been going to buy Christmas presents for his grandchildren when the defendant, now 19, ploughed into him.
Mahmood was identified after being caught on dashcam footage which was later shown on television.
Ms Lisa Hancox, defending, said Mahmood regretted his actions, adding that his bad driving had not been prolonged or thrill-seeking. He had no previous convictions and the incident had been “completely out of character.”
Judge Rhona Campbell said Mr Hale’s life had been “turned upside down” by Mahmood’s appalling driving but she took the defendant’s youth and clean record into consideration.
Mahmood, of Durban Road, Smethwick, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and to handling a stolen car.
He was sentenced to 20 months behind bars and banned from driving for three years on his release.
