Maim a pedestrian and be back on the roads 4 years later

Oliver East, 20, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after admitting dangerous driving. East was charged after he knocked over Robert Bailey, 60, in St Aldate’s, in Oxford, on February 7.

The court heard East was driving between 30mph and 40mph and overtaking when the crash happened. Brian Payne, prosecuting, told the court Mr Bailey suffered two broken legs, fractures to his back and serious head injuries and was taken to hospital in a serious condition. He said: “This resulted in the fact that he was unable to walk or carry out basic functions.”

Judge Mowat said: “I am taking into account the evidence of fairly prolonged aggressive driving through an urban area, it was in dark and icy conditions, driving too fast for these conditions and overtaking. The driving was quite reckless at the time of the incident. Clearly the aggrieved suffered serious injuries. The mitigating factor is his early plea of guilty.

“The maximum sentence would be 12 months’ custody and four years’ disqualification from driving.”