Drug dealer drove his car at angry group that had accused him of theft

One man suffered a broken leg

A MOTORIST drove his car at a group of people, leaving one man with a broken leg.

Timothy Wardrop had been accused of stealing a ring from the victim, who turned up with a group to confront him, in Bishop Street, Melton, on November 29 last year.

Instead of reporting the theft allegation to the police, the complainant and a group of others “set off to look for the perpetrator”, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Stuart Lody, prosecuting, said: “He was approached by the group, with at least one of them in possession of a silver baton.”

According to witnesses, there was a stand off, with the defendant leaning out of his car and others shouting and gesturing.

Mr Lody said: “Ward put the car in motion and accelerated.”

He knocked down the complainant, causing three fractures to one leg.

The victim was left with ongoing difficulties and suffers anxiety, the court was told.

The incident was reported to the police, but no mention was made about at least one of the complainant’s associates being armed with a baton during a group confrontation.

When Wardrop was arrested at his then Melton home, “he fled the property naked” before being detained outside, on December 2.

During a search of his home, officers recovered 264 grams of cannabis, which he admitted possessing with intent to supply.

His mobile phone contained incriminating messages relating to his deal- ing in the class B drug, between April and May, 2017, which he admitted, along with possession of criminal property, namely £370 in cash, which was seized by officers.

Wardrop admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving – on the basis he used excessive self defence – and driving a Renault Megane without insurance.

The 21-year-old, of Pickering Close, Stoney Stanton, was given an 18-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for a year.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: “I accept there were reasons why you drove in the way you did in November last year.

“The account given by prosecution witnesses is not, in my judgement, a wholly truthful account.

“It seems they were exacting some retribution regarding an offence you were said to have been involved in.

“Your plea was entered on the basis it was selfdefence that went too far.

“It caused serious and unpleasant injuries to the complainant and caused long-term effects. I accept you didn’t intend to cause serious injury.

“You also accept being involved in dealing in cannabis, no doubt to friends and acquaintances to provide money to subsidise your own use of drugs and make a modest profit.

“If I thought you were involved in commercial sale you’d be going to prison for a long time.”

Isabel Wilson, mitigating, said the defendant was now working and living away from Melton.

She said: “He was selling cannabis last year to fund his own use.”