Drink-driver dragged scooter for over a mile in West Bromwich
A drunk motorist smashed into a scooter in West Bromwich, hurling the rider onto the bonnet and then dragging the vehicle for about a mile before making his getaway.
Driver Neil Evans smashed into David Griffiths outside a petrol station, in Dudley Street.
He then tried to cover his tracks by lying to police that his car had been stolen.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday he was jailed for one year and four months after admitting dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.
The court heard Evans was on his way to meet a friend when events unfolded at about 10.30pm on February 23 last year.
Mr David Oscroft, prosecuting, said: "The defendant went to pull into the petrol station when David Griffiths, on a scooter, was coming the other way.
"The defendant pulled across in front of Mr Griffiths, knocking him onto the windscreen of the car. The scooter became trapped underneath and the defendant drove off."
The court heard Evans made a false report to police the next day saying he had fallen asleep after having some drinks and woken to find his car had been stolen, and denied any wrongdoing.
He said he was too intoxicated to remember what had happened. Evans was arrested when he failed to turn up for the trial. The 30-year-old eventually pleaded guilty to the offences.
Mr Griffiths, who was left at the scene while his scooter was dragged away, suffered a cut to his left shin and ligament damage in his right leg. He has now made a full recovery.
The court heard Evans was followed by another motorist after the crash who saw him dump the car in Jervoise Lane.
As well as the jail sentence, Judge Amjad Nawaz banned Evans, of High Street, in Brierley Hill, from driving for two years.
"You could have killed Mr Griffiths. It is only by good fortune you did not cause him serious injury," he said.
Judge Nawaz added he 'failed to understand' how anyone could drive for a mile without realising a scooter was underneath their vehicle.
"You knew exactly what you had done and you made that statement quite deliberately. It was a lie. It was to throw police officers off the scent that you were behind the wheel of that motor vehicle."
Mrs Sally Cairns, defending, her client had suffered personal difficulties stemming from a break-up with his partner. She said he suffered from depression and panic attacks.
"In light of personal circumstances I would ask you to draw back from an immediate custodial sentence," she said.
