Passenger jailed after dad injured in a hit-and-run

VICTIM BADLY

A DAD mowed down in a hit-and- run was left with horrific injuries including a bleed on the brain, shattered jaw, nose and cheekbone.

The father was crossing Humberstone Road in Leicester with his teenage son when they were both hit by the speeding blue Seat Ibiza.

The dad, in his 40s, was in a medically induced coma for three weeks and needed a string of operations to rebuild his shattered face and leg, that have been screwed, bolted and pinned together.

The driver responsible has not been caught, but the front-seat passenger, Ismail Adan, who had allowed a friend to drive the car, has now been jailed for 12 months.

The victim said in a statement to Leicester Crown Court: “Although I can move my left arm I’m unable to carry something as simple as a cup of coffee.”

Footage of the collision was shown in court.

The Seat travelled along Uppingham Road towards the city at “excessive speed” and into Humberstone Road, narrowly missing two sisters crossing the road, sending their shopping bag flying.

It then hit the son, who suffered only minor injuries, and his father.

Adan, who works for a car auction firm and had collected the vehicle as part of his job earlier that day, was originally arrested because police believed he was driver of the vehicle.

But CCTV filmed him taking cash from an ATM in Uppingham Road and returning to the front passenger seat moments before the collision.

Mobile phone evidence showed Adan went to Hamilton, near his home, but later returned to the scene for about an hour, making several calls to his wife.

At 8.30am, he falsely reported the Seat as having been stolen from outside his home the night before and told his employer a similar lie – and tried to maintain the lie after he was arrested.

Adan, of Foxton Road, Hamilton, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, by allowing himself to be a passenger in a car that was driven dangerously, and perverting the course of justice.

Dan Bishop, prosecuting, said the father, in his 40s, needed multiple operations to reconstruct his shattered jaw, nose and cheekbone.

He was on a liquid diet for some time, his taste and smell are affected and he has had speech therapy and physiotherapy.

Sentencing, Judge David Herbert QC said: “It would have been clear to you as the front passenger what happened – and I’m told you accept that.

“I have seen the footage of the collision.

“The driver of the car is guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.

“You sought to cover up what happened.

“You’ve concealed the identity of the driver so he cannot be prosecuted.

“When arrested you maintained your lies the car had been stolen and to this day the driver is unknown – you haven’t named him.

“It’s had a serious impact on the administration of justice.”

Jonathan Turner, mitigating, said: “He hasn’t identified the driver because he’s in fear of that individual – and he shouldn’t be sentenced for the actions of that person.

“He’s remorseful and has an understanding of the impact and change of life for the victims.”

In addition to his 12-month prison sentence, for which he will serve six months, Adnan was banned from driving for 18 months.

HURT, BUT THE DRIVER HAS NOT BEEN CAUGHT