Octobe 26, 2009
Thief jailed for 22 months for causing injuries
A thief was jailed for 22 months after knocking a man who was trying to stop him from stealing his friend’s motorbike into the A5, where a lorry ran over the man’s legs causing horrendous injuries.
Steven Draper, 29, of Chiltern View Caravan Site, Eaton Bray, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, driving while disqualified and theft of the motor cycle at Luton Crown Court on Friday 23 October. He was also banned from driving for 12 months.
Prosecutor Will Noble told the court on 13 April this year a friend of Jeffery Sturman's had chained his off road motorbike outside his home on the A5 at Kensworth with a 'For Sale' sign.
Draper and his friend James Howard pulled up and showed interest in the bike. Mr Noble said: "Howard asked if he could start in up, and it was unchained for him. He rode off towards Kensworth and Draper stayed at the scene to begin with, purporting to be waiting for him, but then said he was going to look for him in case he had fallen off.
"Mr Sturman tried to detain him. He attempted to grab the ignition keys of Draper’s car, but Draper reversed onto the busy A5, accidentally throwing Mr Sturman into the path of a lorry. He had seconds to try and pull himself away and the lorry swerved but could not avoid running over his legs. It was very fortunate he survived the accident as Draper drove off at speed.”
The 21-year-old was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where he stayed in intensive care for four weeks. He has had seven operations on his left leg, which suffered muscle, nerve and ligament damage and it was thought at first it may have to be amputated. He also had an operation on his right leg to insert pins in his ankle.
Draper’s reg number was given to police who traced it to the caravan site where he lived, but the car was found burnt out and Draper was not there. Later his solicitor contacted police and arrangements were made for him to hand himself in. Draper was disqualified from driving at the time for an excess alcohol offence.
In a victim impact statement written six months after the accident, Mr Sturman said he suffers ongoing pain and discomfort, but was fortunately now able to walk short distances without crutches.
Stephen Nelson, defending, said: "This was thoughtless and reckless in the extreme. He contacted his solicitor when he learned of the dreadful outcome. He would not have wished that on his worst enemy and he wants the victim and the court to know how deeply sorry he is for what happened. It was not premeditated and the dreadful consequences were not foreseen by him."
Judge John Farnworth told Draper: "This all arose as a direct consequence of your unlawful behaviour in setting out to steal a motor cycle. You insisted on making your escape with the quite appalling consequences for Mr Sturman."
