Driver jailed for seven years for deliberate hit-and-run in Brownhills

John Thomason drove a van at 42-year-old Gareth James and his friend Richard Vernon in Wilkin Road in August, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.

Mr James was badly injured and has still been unable to return to work after suffering a bleed on the brain.

His friend suffered minor injuries.

Mr Hugh O'Brien-Quinn, prosecuting, said at the time the pair had been walking with another man, Matthew Evans, who had a minor argument with Thomason at the Waterside pub, in Wilkin Road, shortly beforehand.

At the pub, Thomason had tripped over a chair and became aggressive when Mr Evans made a comment about it, the court heard.

He later left and suggested to his girlfriend that they should drive back to Birmingham but was told by her that he had too much to drink.

Despite the warning and receiving an 18-month driving ban earlier this year for driving with excess alcohol, the 25-year-old went to get his van which he had parked outside his girlfriend's parents home.t

He drove back to the pub to pick her up and they drove away from the scene but later returned.

The court heard the van was seen driving up and down several times at speed as Mr James, Mr Vernon, Mr Evans and another man were walking home along Wilkin Road.

Mr O'Brien-Quinn said Thomason had deliberately mounted the kerb and drove at Mr James and Mr Vernon.

Mr James suffered two broken ribs, a fractured nose, a cut to his forehead, requiring stitches, and a brain injury.

He was put in an induced coma and remained in hospital for 11 days.

The court heard Mr James said the incident would stay with him for the rest of his life.

Mr Vernon suffered a twisted knee, black eye and cuts.

Mr O'Brien-Quinn said: "He said the incident left him feeling scared and reluctant to leave the house."

Police managed to get the registration number of the van and the vehicle was later tracked down in Kingstanding.

The court heard that it had not been possible to calculate how fast it had been travelling but fragments of Mr James' skin were found embedded in the windscreen.

Further inquiries led to the arrest of Thomason, who answered no comment to questions put to him in a police interview.

Thomason, of Thetford Road, Great Barr, previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr James, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr Vernon, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and having no insurance.

He had originally been charged with attempted murder but made his GBH plea after the case was reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mr Robert Cowley, mitigating, said it was an isolated incident and Thomason had never received a custodial sentence in the past.

He added: "He's horrified of what he did that day."

Judge Robin Onions said Thomason had reacted to a minor incident at the pub in the way he had because he was under the influence of alcohol.

He told him: "You went to get your van intending to do that in which you later did - to use it as a weapon."

He said he had deliberately driven onto the pavement and mowed down two of the group.

Judge Onions sentenced Thomason to seven years and four months in jail each for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was also handed a seven year driving ban and handed a 16 month prison sentence for dangerous driving and four month jail term for driving while disqualified, all running concurrently.