A taxi driver suffered devastating injuries when another motorist jumped a red light and ploughed into him. Dean Beeching, 31, of Mendip Court, Top Valley, hit D&G taxi driver Mohammed Aziz, who was taking a lady passenger on a fare from Bulwell to her home in Arnold on July 22, 2018.
The accident happened at 3.30am, at the traffic light controlled junction of Hucknall Road and Arnold Road, Nottingham, when Mr Aziz was driving a D&G-owned Skoda Rapid and drove properly through a green light.
Without warning he felt an enormous crash to the driver's door and realised a car had travelled through a red light at some speed. He was in some considerable pain and his passenger was screaming, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Wednesday, March 30.
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The passenger saw from her window the headlights of Beeching's Seat Ibiza were very close. She heard a crunch and realised there was a collision. She went to hospital with a cut tongue, broken teeth and bruising.
But the taxi driver was worse off. He spent 31 days in hospital with a right collarbone fracture, bruised legs, and a complex hip fracture extending into his pelvis. He arrived at Beeching's previously planned trial on crutches, but the defendant pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to him by dangerous driving, and there was no need for Mr Aziz to give evidence.
"Another driver witnessed the collision and saw the defendant leave the Seat, before returning to the car, and running off," said Dawn Pritchard, prosecuting. "He (the witness) thought he was smiling".
DNA on an airbag in the Seat, which had exploded at the point of collision, and on other areas of the car led police to know Beeching was involved. He had not been wearing his seatbelt.
"It is viewed his speed was not grossly excessive," added Miss Pritchard. "Clearly he was going too fast".
Beeching was circulated as wanted by police. On February 12, 2019, months after the accident he surrendered to the Bridewell custody suite, in Nottingham city centre, and made "no comment" replies to questions, but went on to admit his wrong-doing.
Meanwhile, Mr Aziz made a victim impact statement, saying that 20 months after the accident he still cannot walk without crutches and the right side of his leg is numb. He uses sleeping tablets and pain relief, and there is no guarantee he will be able to walk again.
Mitigating, David Morton said Beeching is, "regretful and remorseful for his behaviour".
Judge Rosalind Coe banned Beeching from driving for 45 months, and imposed a 13-month prison sentence for causing serious injury by dangerous driving. This was consecutive to a 29-month sentence for possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine, and supplying cocaine on August 28, 2018, in Chesterfield. In relation to the drug offences, the judge ordered the forfeiture of the drugs, a car he was in at the time, and £75.60.
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