Mechanic struck stranger 'using car as a weapon' in a Black Country street

Trouble flared when Calin Diaconu, then aged 17, took photos of victim Thomas Tarrant’s parked car in Newtown Lane where the motorist was having a chat with a relative mid morning on July 22, 2024.

Mr David Iles, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Mr Tarrant confronted the youth who then fled on foot before pursuing him also on foot to neighbouring Foxoak Street. Mr Iles said moments later a BMW appeared on the scene and struck the victim. The person at the wheel of the offending car was Diaconu’s father Marcel Ilie, aged 46, who owned a garage in the area.

He said the pursuit was captured on CCTV and on mobile phones by members of the public who witnessed what happened.

Mr Iles said: “Diaconu started taking photos of a car belonging to a member of the public and a total stranger to him. Mr Tarrant was agitated because the same car had been stolen two weeks before. He got out of the car. Diaconu ran off. Mr Tarrant tried to chase him to ask why he was taking photos.

“As he followed behind, Diaconu swung a punch at him which missed. Diaconu then phoned his father Ilie who was nearby and who turned up in a BMW which had trade licence plates fitted. Ilie tried to hit Mr Tarrant with the car. In fear Mr Tarrant ran towards Newtown Lane. Instead of stopping to pick up his son Ilie pursues Mr Tarrant in the vehicle with Diaconu chasing on foot.

“The videos shows Ilie overtaking Diaconu.” “Some witnesses called the police, while others made reference to the BMW swerving into Mr Tarrant as he ran away.”

The pair, both of High Street, Quarry Bank, initially denied the offences, but changed their pleas to guilty at an earlier hearing.

On Tuesday sentencing both men, Judge David Perry said it was a case of the “pursuer becoming the pursued” and that Ilie deliberately drove into the victim's righthand side. He said when Mr Tarrant tried to get up Diaconu kicked him. Ilie was then seen to alight the BMW and joined in the attack. Mr Tarrant is then seen to slump to the floor after sufferingcompound fractures to his leg, a broken nose and bruises.

He was treated for 12 weeks at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was given surgery and a skin graft on his damaged leg.

Miss Olivia Appleby, mitigating for Ilie a divorced father-of-two, said he was remorseful for his actions. She said he moved to the UK from Romania with his children in 2011.

For admitting wounding with intent and dangerous driving Ilie, aged 46, was jailed for a total of four years and four months. He must serve half the term before being released on licence. He was also made subject to a discretionary road ban of two years extended by two years and two months.

For wounding unemployed Diaconu, now aged 19, was jailed for 12 months suspended for two years, he must attend 30 rehabilitation activity days and must carry out 120 hours unpaid work in the community. There was no order for costs or compensation.

The victim stated that the incident left him isolated and suffering from anxiety as he was unable to go out.