A young man who rammed a pedestrian into a lamppost with his car after a dispute about parking has been jailed.
Thomas Arnold drove his vehicle into the victim on June 25 last year, leaving him with fractures in both his legs and a testicle injury.
During a sentencing hearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday, the court heard how Arnold’s victim would only recover his range of movement to 90% to 95% of his previous ability.
Judge Matthew Hellens explained how the altercation in Park Drive, Kings Hill, came about after Arnold had a “dispute about parking issues” with another man.
At around 7.40pm Arnold, of Lavender Drive, East Malling, was already in his car at the time and drove his vehicle onto the grass verge at the victim who jumped onto the bonnet in an attempt to get out of the way.
He then steered it towards a lamppost, trapping the man between the vehicle and the streetlight.Arnold drove from the scene, leaving the victim with multiple injuries including two broken legs.
As a result, the victim was trapped between the car and the lamppost and left with pain “he’d never known before”.
‘As well as the physical scars, the impact of this crime will likely have a significant psychological impact on the victim for the rest of their life…’
At around 7.40pm, the argument escalated and led to Arnold driving his Ford Fiesta onto a grass verge where it struck with the victim and forced him onto the bonnet.
An investigation quickly located the Fiesta abandoned nearby and enquiries established the driver had fled to the Isle of Sheppey.
Two days after the incident, Arnold handed himself in at Sheerness Police Station and claimed during an interview he had been scared of the victim and hadn’t meant to harm him.
He insisted his foot had slipped on the accelerator as he tried to drive around him.
Judge Hellens said the victim suffered a “grave injury” which would leave a “lifelong impact”.
Arnold’s partner, sister, and mother sat in court while he was sentenced to five years for GBH with intent.
He was given credit for his time on remand and early guilty plea.
Detective Constable Hannah Barker said: “Arnold showed no hesitation in using his car as a weapon and his actions left his victim suffering a number of appalling injuries.
“It is only by chance that the victim survived this mindless assault, although there is little doubt this ordeal will have a profound and long-lasting effect.
“As well as the physical scars, the impact of this crime will likely have a significant psychological impact on the victim for the rest of their life.
“I only hope today’s sentence will provide some closure and reassurance that at least justice has now been served.”
