‘THIS WAS A BAD PIECE OF DRIVING’
Six years in jail for motorist who mowed down man with van
DANGER driver Robert Bowen mowed a man down with a Transit van after a row over parking.
The 34-year-old mounted the pavement ‘at some speed’ and hit his victim in the back – causing a catalogue of injuries – before fleeing the scene.
The man suffered a broken ankle, three foot fractures, a broken toe, as well as head and leg injuries.
Now Bowen has been jailed for six years at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court. The court head he and the victim had been involved in ‘an altercation’ about ‘inconsiderate parking’ in Church Street, Audley, on April 23 last year.
Judge Graham Smith told Bowen: “You turned your van round and drove after him at some speed. You mounted the pavement and hit him in the back. He was thrown against the wall and his injuries were serious – you could have been facing a murder charge.”
The judge said the victim was with his daughter at the time, Both suffered ‘a mental impact’ in addition to the victim’s physical injuries.
In an impact statement, the victim said his daughter ‘can’t believe somebody could do this’ adding: “I have adjusted what I can and can’t do physically.”
A statement from his daughter said: “Witnessing what happened to my dad has traumatised me. I have a constant feeling of nausea. I was unable to go near my dad’s house, I was so frightened that I didn’t want to move back there. I wanted him to sell it and move out.
“Flashbacks of the event play through my head. The accident has affected my life.
“I feel lucky that myself and the dog weren’t physically hurt and that my dad is alive.”
Bowen, of Waverton Road, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to failing to stop after a road traffic collision, failing to report after a road traffic collision, dangerous driving and grievous bodily harm.
Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Bowen had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and was ashamed of his behaviour.
He added: “He is not a man who acts violent regularly. He shows remorse. It was committed when he was not dealing with a traumatic incident with the death of his father. Since the incident he has not drunk or taken illicit substances. “
Jailing Bowen, Judge Smith said: “You were in a mentally vulnerable position yourself because of the death of your father. You saw red and felt you had been disrupted. It’s not a form of excuse.
“This reaction was extreme. There was some pre-meditation because it did not happen in the heat of the moment. I am clear this is a higher culpability case. Driving a van deliberately at someone is a dangerous weapon equivalent. This was a bad piece of driving.”
The judge also banned Bowen from driving for eight years, which will begin after his release.