A pensioner was left with life-changing injuries after he was ran over in a Tesco car park by a violent thief.
The 75-year-old man had gone to the Tesco Extra store in Roundhay Road on October 8 last year to deposit some recycling and had left his key in the ignition when he turned and saw Scott Lumley, 48, sat in the driver's seat. Ayesha Smart, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday that the man - who had been described by witnesses as "elderly and frail" - tried to open the driver's side door.
She said: "The defendant reversed the vehicle and revved the engine at the victim and he realised he needed to get out of the way. He [Lumley] drove forward and maneuvered the car to the right and caused him to fall to the ground and he drove over his right leg before driving off in the direction of the exit of the Tesco."
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An ambulance was called while the man was in "genuine distress" suffering with an open wound and visible bones, the court heard. Ms Smart said: "He was taken to Leeds General Infirmary and had multiple fractures to his right leg and bones missing from his shin. He had an operation to his leg to cut off the dead bone.
"There was a 70 per cent risk at that time of amputation but of course he didn't require amputation. He suffered a number of other injuries including a hip fracture, abrasions to his thumb, knee and forearm." The man was discharged from hospital but has since been in a rehabilitation centre.
The man's car was recovered on October 9 in Chapeltown and his wallet, bank cards and mobile phone had been taken from it. Lumley, of Marley Terrace in Leeds, was interviewed but told police he "couldn't recall whereabouts" he had been that day but did take drugs that day. Ms Smart said: "When pressed further he answered 'no comment' to questions asked of victim.
In a victim impact statement the man said that while he was in hospital he was prescribed painkillers which had a "serious negative effect" on him and he "had nightmares and believed those working at the hospital were spies." He told how he had to have further surgeries to save his leg, including remodelling and skin grafts.
Ms Smart said: "He hopes he will be able to walk again and he hopes he will be able to drive again but that is a long way off and there is no guarantee. It is likely he will need care and help for the rest of his life."
The man's wife also provided a victim impact statement to the court and told how she now regards herself as a full-time carer. Ms Smart said: "It has had a financial impact on her life and she now has to drive which she didn't before. She said her husband requires care and support and she is concerned about him being able to be independent again."
The court was told Lumley had 40 previous convictions for 151 offences including five for dangerous driving, dishonesty and other driving offences. He was on licence at the time of the offence after being jailed for 22 months in 2021 for offences including dangerous driving. He had pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm, causing serious injury while dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance at a plea, trial and preparation hearing.
Mitigating, Mr Blatchford, told the court Lumley had expressed remorse for what he had done. He told Judge Simon Batiste: "You will recognise the pattern of the number of inquisitive offences which relate to the issues he had with substances and the abuse of them.
"He has started to deal with these issues and is dealing with them while in prison." Mr Blatchford said Lumley had been described as a "model prisoner" and he had written a letter of apology with the help of another.
Judge Batiste jailed Lumley for three years and three years and told him: "The circumstances of these offences can be set out very shortly. The impact on the victim is, however, life long. He believes you drove at him - the prosecution accepts his plea to GBH [grievous bodily harm] and I have to accept this wasn't a deliberate attempt to run him over.
"You're someone with an enormous record of relevant convictions and this is your sixth offence of dangerous driving. Many will say the sentence I can pass for offending as wicked as you have done is woefully inadequate."
The judge said he did not accept Lumley was remorseful as he has "repeatedly driven in such dangerous ways in the past" and "didn't stop at the scene." Judge Batiste added: "This is a horrible set of offences."
Lumley was also disqualified from driving for a period of six years and seven-and-a-half-months, at the end of which he will have to take an extended driving test.
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