Southampton driver banned after Portsmouth Road hit-and-run
Mitchell Thorne, 23, was banned from driving for two years after he struck Jackie Carrington on Portsmouth Road, Bursledon. Southampton[1] Magistrates' Court heard how Thorne, of Bitterne Road West, hit the 60-year-old with his Ford Transit van as she travelled home from work. A few weeks later, a lollipop lady was hit at the same crossing - sparking a campaign to put traffic lights there[2].
Reacting to the driving ban, Jackie (pictured above) said: "I am shocked. I was thinking he would only get points on his licence. "The fact he got banned for two years, that's a lot of time.
But in the grand scheme of things, the accident could have been a lot worse, so it seems like a lot but it sends a message. "I am satisfied with the outcome. It's been a long time coming and there has been a lot of hard work to bring him to justice.
I'm sure he won't be doing that again." At Thorne's sentencing, prosecutor Anisa Alrubaie said Jackie began to cross when she felt a bang, before falling backwards and being hit by a second vehicle. Neither Thorne nor the driver of the second car stopped at the scene after the incident on December 15, 2022.
Jackie, who works right next to the crossing, was left with a broken wrist and bruising to her left leg and thigh. Ms Alrubaie added that she was "very shaken up and in a lot of pain" afterwards and had her hand in a sling for six weeks, opting to take lifts to work with colleagues rather than face the crossing. Thorne was only identified when police put a questionnaire through his door along with many others as part of their investigation.
He went on to plead guilty to causing serious injury by inconsiderate driving. Barry Keele, mitigating, said his client 'has been worried about this and has shown concern for the lady who suffered the injury'. He added: "He would say it was a momentary lapse of concentration on his part.
"He hadn't realised that he struck the unfortunate person. "The first he knew about it was when he got the questionnaire through the post." He added that Thorne had been travelling at low speeds at the time and has since required lifts to and from work due to an interim disqualification.
Judge Anthony Callaway said this was an "isolated incident" - but added: "This is a significant incident and it is a serious incident, especially from the perspective of Miss Carrington." Thorne was given a two-year driving ban and a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work. He was fined GBP360 and must pay GBP85 court costs plus a victim surcharge.
No compensation was awarded though the judge said this would be a matter for the complainant. The second driver who hit Jackie has not appeared in court. She said: "Everyone thinks that the second driver who hit me is just as bad, but I think that if Mitchell hadn't hit me then that wouldn't have happened.
"I am sad they didn't catch the other driver as it shouldn't have happened."
References
- ^ Southampton (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ sparking a campaign to put traffic lights there (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ Bursledon hit and run: Victim speaks out after zebra crossing incident (www.dailyecho.co.uk)