‘Speeding driver nearly killed us’
VICTIM TELLS OF MOMENT HIS FAMILY WERE HIT BY MENACE
A BOY racer “came close to almost killing” a family of three after he shunted their car into a bush while speeding towards them.
Stephen Hill drove on the wrong side of the road and narrowly missed hitting a police car as he hit estimated speeds of up to 80mph on busy Northumberland streets.
The 20-year-old, who was 19 at the time, left a family with whiplashtype injuries after crashing into them at speed in Bedlington.
The victim, who had been out with his partner and 17-year-old stepdaughter, said they had been left traumatised by the collision.
Now Hill has avoided being locked up after a judge was moved by the victim’s generous letter asking for him to be “rehabilitated”.
Prosecutor Ellen Wright said Hill was spotted by two police officers on May 9 driving a white VW Golf “at a high speed” and crossing the road onto the wrong side.
She told the court: “They were concerned the driver was losing control of the vehicle, as it narrowly avoided a collision with the police car. They went to follow the vehicle but, due to its speed, it disappeared.”
Newcastle Crown Court heard
Hill’s car was spotted at the Jet garage on Front Street, Bedlington, but it disappeared “seconds” later.
Ms Wright said witnesses who saw Hill’s driving at the time described him as “fighting to keep control of the vehicle” and “narrowly missing” another car.
One witness estimated his speed at between 70 and 80mph on a bend where it should have been 40mph.
Police then received a report that it had crashed into another car near the petrol station.
The victim said he was driving with his family near Bedlington Station when he approached a junction and saw the VW Golf “travelling towards him like a bullet”.
Ms Wright told the court: “He said the vehicle collided with his vehicle, causing significant damage. It caused the airbags to deploy and the vehicle was pushed into some bushes. He says two males left the car and approached his vehicle. The daughter of the complainant said he apologised, but both the defendant and the male he was with left the scene.”
In a statement read to the court, the victim said: “I think the driver was driving in a very idiotic manner.
“The fact that he left the scene shows he was being very irresponsible.
“I would like him to understand he came very close to almost killing me and my family.
“He needs to understand this nearly ruined not just our lives, but his own life.
“As a family this has had a massive impact on us, we are traumatised by what has happened.
“I am still in pain from the incident, and the physical and mental injuries will take a long time to recover.”
He added that he hoped Hill “can
be rehabilitated in some way”. Kate Barnes, for Hill, said: “Immaturity played a large part in the commission of this offence. This is a young man who displays significant defects in his thinking skills.”
The court heard that at the time of the offence, Hill was awaiting sentence for an offence of driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs.
Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced Hill, of Eastleigh, Newbiggin-by-theSea, to nine months in a young offender institution – but suspended the sentence for two years.
The judge said: “It was a prolonged piece of bad driving, causing significant damage to the Passat and injuries to the three occupants.
“You didn’t even remain at the scene.
“The victim says ‘I would hope this young man can be rehabilitated in some way’. I was influenced by that act of generosity.”
Hill, who had admitted dangerous driving, was also given 15 days’ rehabilitation activity and an electronically monitored curfew for three months.
He was banned from driving for two and a half years.