Wolverhampton pram crash driver hit with £400 court bill

Makhan Chana was given six points on his licence and ordered to pay £405 court costs after pleading guilty to driving without care and attention. The 58-year-old of Haggar Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton, was driving in Horseley Fields when he lost control of his car and hit a wall and Nicole Hollywood and her son, Kieran.

The city's magistrates court heard yesterday how Kieran's pram was 'squashed and mangled' as a result and he suffered bruises to his head, hand and left leg.

Nicole, 26, from Eastfields, said: "Kieran is only young and he is now terrified of cars. If he hears them screech outside our house at night it scares him, we live near a main road and there is a lot of dangerous drivers there.

"I wouldn't have minded what happened if we had crossed the road at the wrong time, but we were on the pavement, where we expect to be safe."

The court heard that a witness said the crash was caused by Chana driving at speed, however, this was denied by him.

Prosecuting, Miss Jenny Windsor said: "The defendant's vehicle spun 180 degrees, mounted the footpath, hit the pram and then crashed into a wall.

"The pram was left squashed and mangled, while members of the public rushed to the aid of the woman and her child. A witness said that the car was going at speed, which the defendant still denies, he says he simply lost control of his car."

Defence solicitor Greg Burke said that Chana had been driving since 1974 and the crash was the first blemish on his record. He said: "My client describes himself as an experienced driver, someone who drives every day. On this occasion he simply lost control, but he still denies speed was the reason behind this."

Chana was forced to pay a £200 fine, costs of £85, a £20 surcharge and a £100 criminal court charge, as well as being handed six points. District judge Michael Wheeler said: "You have a clean record, you co-operated with police and stayed at the scene, all of which I give you credit for."