Drug user jailed for running thief over
RECOVERING drug user Ian Bailey deliberately ran over a man's legs in his car after the victim stole his methadone.
Ian Bailey, of Margaret Avenue, Trentham, was yesterday jailed for 12 months after admitting dangerous driving and assaulting Darren Wright, occasioning him actual bodily harm.
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Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard Mr Wright approached 33-year-old Bailey's car in Clewlow Street, Longton, at 5.15pm on April 16 last year and stole his methadone bottle.
Prosecutor Phillip Beardwell said witnesses saw Mr Wright running away.
"He was chased by the black Fiat Punto which knocked him to the ground. His legs were under the car. The witnesses saw the defendant drive over Mr Wright's legs.
"The defendant reversed at Mr Wright, who managed to scramble to his feet and move out the way," said Mr Beardwell.
"Every time Mr Wright tried to escape the defendant reversed or drove forwards in an attempt to block his escape.
"He managed to flee down Anchor Road and the car mounted the pavement after him. There was an elderly resident in the street at the time. Mr Wright was pursued to a house by the defendant, who got out the car and started banging on the door. Mr Wright eventually reappeared and ran off," added the prosecutor.
The court heard Mr Wright suffered cuts to his nose and right knee, severe bruising to his legs and suffered considerable pain.
Witnesses called the police and the Punto registration number was traced to Bailey's mother.
Joanne Wallbanks, defending asked Judge Granville Styler to suspend any prison sentence because of Bailey's motivation to attack his drug problem.
But the judge said an immediate custodial sentence was inevitable.
"This was an extremely serious matter," the judge told Bailey.
"You used your car as a weapon, you deliberately knocked him down and deliberately drove over his legs.
"Mercifully, the injuries were not more serious. They could have been fatal."
Bailey was also disqualified from driving for two years and must take an extended re-test before he can drive again.
He will serve up to half the sentence.
5 Comments
by Warren, Meir
Friday, July 03 2009, 5:42PM
“Lexicon2...Stoke, no mate, I have always thought that Methadone is a good tretment for a ex-drug user to have, anything that helps them better themselfs, insteed of being druged up space monkeys, hope the lad can stay clean, even though the courts seem dead set against him, but yes, he should have taken better care of it.”
by lexicon2, stoke
Friday, July 03 2009, 4:25PM
“going soft warren??
the mere mention of the word methadone normally sends you into a scummy scum bag no good waste of space drug addict rampage”
by NP, Stoke
Friday, July 03 2009, 2:31PM
“Its true you should be able to protect your own property by whatever means necessary. However the lesson learned to all is don't leave your methodone bottles on view in case somebody pinches them lol!”
by Warren, Meir
Friday, July 03 2009, 10:42AM
“Someone stops a crime, some one who is trying to change his life, and he gets jailed for it. Others, up to all kinds of stuff, they walk free, tell me if its justace, cos it an't to my eyes, its srewed up.”
by James, Stoke
Friday, July 03 2009, 9:55AM
“Does the judge not realise how much pain this gentleman would have been in had he not had his Methadone i think he got off lightly by just being run over. I hold down a full time job, i have never stolen anything in my life but was addicted to that evil substance myself of which i am clean now, I have never done a methadone programme and understand Mr Bailey's Action completely. What did the judge do about the theft? Nothing i presume, t is all to common now the real criminals being protected by the law, its the same if someone breaks into your house and you attack the culprit - ASSAULT CHARGE!!!!”