A delivery driver was left with life-changing head injuries when he was run over trying to stop a drug addict stealing his vehicle. The victim was working hard earning an honest living in the lead up to Christmas last year when he had the misfortune to cross paths with crack cocaine-fuelled serial offender Michael Gill.
As the 54-year-old victim went about his business in Sunderland, Gill stole his car, containing 157 parcels and sped away. As the delivery driver ran into the road to try to stop him escaping with what was his own vehicle and livelihood, he was struck by his stolen car and suffered devastating injuries.
As he lay unconscious in the foetal position, callous Gill made off, along with accomplice Gary Rarity, calmly sharing out the stolen parcels, without a care for the stricken victim. Newcastle Crown Court heard he was only able to return home a month ago and has been left with a significant deformity to his head after part of his skull had to be removed. He is no longer able to work or drive and lives in fear that a bump to his head could kill him.
As Gill was jailed, he said in a victim impact statement: "I feel the accident has taken away my life. I no longer feel I'm living but simply existing. The life I knew was taken from me."
"Before this I was a hard worker, working six days a week and I enjoyed my job. I can no longer work or drive and I've lost my independence."
"Every day is still frightening and I must be extremely cautious. I have a large part of my skull missing, leaving the right side of my brain unprotected."
"I've been told if I fall or hit my head it could be fatal. This has affected me deeply."
The man, from Sunderland, said that even simple tasks like getting out of the bath or going for a walk are frightening as he fears falling and bumping his head and he has been left struggling to do basic daily tasks like washing and dressing and also suffers memory problems.
He added that the shape of his head is different and at some point he will require major surgery to fit a metal plate in his head, which is risky and which he is afraid of.
He said he hopes those responsible "reflect on the consequences of their actions and make positive changes to their lives".
It was on December 16 last year that Gill stole a VW Tiguan belonging to the victim, containing the packages he was delivering for his employer, Yodel. Around 10.50am he was on Stannington Gardens, Sunderland, making deliveries, when he was targeted.
Gill drove to the street in a Volvo, with Rarity in the passenger seat. CCTV showed them drive past as the victim made his way up the street dropping off parcels.
Gill got out of the Volvo, with Rarity then moving from the passenger seat to the driver's seat. Gill stole the delivery driver's car and reversed it at speed until another car came up behind him and stopped.
He then drove forwards and the victim, who had been seen running up the street, was hit by his stolen vehicle, which knocked him to the ground and left him with a serious head injury.
Gill, in the stolen car and Rarity, in the Volvo, then fled as the man lay seriously injured and were seen, with others, calmly distributing the stolen parcels around half an hour later. The court heard there were a total of 157 parcels left to be delivered at the time of the offence, with some later recovered.
A woman who saw the two vehicles making off at speed went to attend to the victim. She said his breathing was heavy, loud and laboured and he was unresponsive and remained unconscious while she was with him.
He was taken to the RVI and had three seizures in the ambulance and another at hospital. Due to the severity of his head injuries, he had to have a craniotomy, removing part of his skull to relieve the pressure on his brain. He was only able to return home a month ago and has a "significant deformity to his head".
Gill, 43, of Cairo Street, Sunderland, who has 148 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, theft, driving while disqualified and having no insurance. He was jailed for three years and seven months and will be banned from driving for three years when he is released.
Judge Stephen Earl told him: "This was an horrific circumstance, frankly. This was captured on CCTV and it makes horrific viewing."
"I've seen pictures of his injuries. They are significant and life-altering injuries."
He said of the plan to steal the car and parcels: "It went awry when he did exactly what you would expect him to do, which was to try to prevent his vehicle being stolen. That was his vehicle and his livelihood. One can forgive him for running into the road, his natural reaction."
"You must have known he was seriously injured. He lay in the road in the foetal position, not assisted at all by you."
Vince Ward, prosecuting, said: "The purpose of the theft was to steal Christmas presents. He has completely disregarded the risk of danger of (the victim). He was there for him to see."
"He clearly tried to prevent the theft and the loss that would have done to his livelihood."
"This was obviously a highly dangerous manoeuvre. He caused particularly grave, life-threatening injuries."
Lee Fish, defending, said: "He acknowledges he has committed a very serious offence and he acknowledges the devastating consequences of his actions. He is truly sorry for what he has done."
"This defendant has always accepted responsibility for what he did. The only issue he raised is whether he intended to cause really serious harm."
"He was just trying to get away, he didn't intend for any of this to happen. But unfortunately the consequences of the offending have been truly devastating and he recognises that he deserves to be punished for his actions and their consequences."
He added: "Mr Gill knows he needs to improve as a person. It's clear he has had a very significant dependency on drugs. It does not excuse what he did but drug use was a crucial factor in his decision making."
Rarity, 42, of Toward Road, Sunderland, will be sentenced for theft and driving while disqualified, which he admitted, on June 29.
