A man who left an elderly man lying injured after hitting him with a car in Redcar has been jailed for three years.
18-year-old Sonny Horsfall, from Ryedale View in Kirkbymoorside, was disqualified from driving and was uninsured. He had owned the car that he had driven dangerously around the Redcar area for only a matter of hours when he mounted a pavement on West Dyke Road and hit 84-year-old Eddie, who had just left a local pub.
The incident, which happened around 10:30pm on 22nd April, left Eddie with multiple pelvic fractures and fractures to his back and right foot. He was placed in intensive care for almost a week after his condition deteriorated.
Horsfall had been filming his dangerous driving on social media – whilst carrying out a dangerous overtake and ignoring a red light. After the collision, he phoned an acquaintance and said “a man got smashed…..I think I’ve killed him” and added that he had “ran” and was “eating a pizza” from a takeaway.
Thankfully, members of the public came to Eddie’s aid.
After major surgery, Eddie, who was once completely independent, still suffers from leg pain and is slowly recovering. He can now walk a short distance using a walking frame.
In a victim impact statement, Eddie told the court: “Since the incident, I find myself questioning whether I will ever feel truly safe again, even when walking on the pavement…This incident has caused devastating physical injuries, but its impact goes far beyond the injuries themselves. It has taken away my confidence, my sense of safety, my independence, and, to a large extent, my dignity…The loss of my independence and dignity is something I struggle to come to terms with every day.”
Eddie’s daughter, Carol, said: “Even now, I still struggle with what happened. I do not sleep properly and frequently find myself reliving the events of that night. I constantly worry about my dad’s future and what lies ahead for him. There remains so much uncertainty regarding his long-term recovery and whether he will ever regain the independence he once enjoyed.”
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Rachael Johnson, said: “This was a shocking and wholly avoidable collision which has left an 84-year-old man with serious injuries while simply walking home on the pavement.
“Sonny Horsfall mounted the pavement striking the victim and rather than remaining at the scene to assist an elderly man who had suffered serious injuries, he chose to think only of himself. He fled the scene, went to an associates address nearby and ordered himself a pizza.
“The circumstances of this case demonstrate a complete disregard for the safety of others. Sonny Horsfall was uninsured, did not hold a driving licence and had been observed driving dangerously shortly prior to the collision.
“It is hoped the sentence handed to Sonny Horsfall today serves as a clear reminder of the consequences of disregarding the rules of the road. Driving is a privilege and a responsibility, not a right. Anyone who gets behind the wheel without a licence, without insurance, or who drives recklessly is placing innocent members of the public at risk. The outcome of this case could easily have been fatal.
“We remain committed to pursuing those who choose to endanger others on our roads and ensuring they are held fully accountable for their actions.
“I would like to thank members of the public for their assistance with the investigation, as well as those who stopped to provide aid and support to the victim at the scene.
“Our thoughts remain with Eddie and his family as he continues his recovery.”
At Durham Crown Court today, Sonny was sentenced to three years imprisonment for causing serious injury by dangerous driving and three months to run concurrently for driving whilst disqualified. He was also banned from driving for four years.
