An army veteran from Rochdale has been left with 'life changing' injuries after he crushed under the wheel of his car as he tried to stop it being stolen.
Ronald Kenny, 88, is says he was left in 'excruciating pain' after his attempt to prevent carjacker, Ian Gibbons, from making off with his Ford Fiesta outside Colmans Off-Licence in Rochdale back in May.
The hero army veteran who has been honoured by the Queen suffered a fractured femur in the attack and had to undergo surgery for a hip replacement and cosmetic treatment.
Mr Kenny who served as a soldier for 32 years and won an MBE in 1992 had parked outside a store and left his car for 'less than one minute' with the keys still in the ignition when Mr Gibbons jumped into the driver side of the Fiesta.
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Mr Kenny relived his ordeal at the hands of Gibbons, 37, who was jailed for 14 years.
He told the court how he pleaded with Gibbons to leave the car several times but Gibbons instead rammed the elderly man into a parked car and then crushed him under the wheels of the Fiord Fiesta.
Mr Kenny says how the attack has left him is struggling to care for his blind and infirm wife of 63 years.
"I just recall feeling totally disorientated and in excruciating pain, with a number of people around me,' he said in a statement.
''I am utterly disappointed with the actions of the male who could clearly see that I am elderly and acted with menace to steal my vehicle and drove the vehicle at, and over, me.
He added: ''I was an ex-servicemen between 1951-1983 and during this time I was awarded commendation in 1966 and in 1992 I was awarded an MBE. I have also been married for 63 years but my wife suffered a heart attack and she is now severely blind and has 25% vision in her other eye.
''She is still suffering from memory loss and has difficulties with her mobility. I am her 24/7 carer. On 2 May 2021, I was the victim of a serious life changing injury.
"I left my home address and drove to a local newsagents where I purchased a number of newspapers. When I came out, I noticed a male sitting in the drivers seat of my car.
''I jumped on the bonnet and asked him to leave the car on three occasions. I told him I would not chase him.
"He was looking at me and saying something but I couldn’t hear what he said. He then accelerated forward with me still on the bonnet and smashed me against a parked vehicle in front.
''He then reversed and I was thrown into the middle of the road. He could see me on my back in the middle of the road. He then drove across the lower part of my body. I felt excruciating pain.
"I was distressed about my wife being alone on her own and vulnerable. He could see I was elderly and yet he drove the vehicle over me.”
Police said Mr Kenny was stood in front of the bonnet of his vehicle as it was driven towards him and he was briefly knocked to the ground.
He got to his feet again and continued to stand in front of his vehicle in an attempt to prevent Gibbons from taking the car but the thief reversed and drove the Fiesta at speed towards Mr Kenny, striking him a second time before then driving the car fully over the victims legs.
Prosecutor Juliet Berry said: ''Mr Kenny drove from his home address and parked up outside a shop. He left his keys in the ignition. Mr Kenny was in the shop for less than one minute when the defendant arrived and got into the drivers side of Mr Kenny car.
''Mr Kenny came out of the shop to see this defendant in the driving seat. Mr Kenny tried to stop him taking the car by getting on the bonnet and speaking to him. He said he would not chase him if he chose to get out of the car.
''But the defendant then accelerated whilst Mr Kenny was on the bonnet into a stationary parked car in front. He then reversed in an attempt to get away. Mr Kenny was thrown into the road. The defendant drove away and abandoned the car.
''The defendant hid the key under a bush. DNA was found on the steering wheel. Several members of the public witnesses the incident and someone who was medically trained came to his assistance.''
''Mr Kenny sustained injuries and was taken to A&E at Salford royal hospital. He suffered a fracture to the right femur and it was deemed necessary for him to undergo surgery for a hip replacement and plastic surgery to replace damage to his finger.
''He is a carer for his wife who is visually impaired. He is the sole carer. It has had a terrible impact on his mobility and to enjoy life with is wife. The doctors are not satisfied with the progress he is making.'
Gibbons, from Rochdale, abandoned Mr Kenny's Fiesta nearby and was arrested later. It emerged he had assaulted and robbed another man of £5 as the victim was putting change in his pocket following a visit to a Morrisons store. He made no comment in interview and at the time, he was subject to a suspended sentence for theft.
Gibbons admitted intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery and dangerous driving. Det Con Andrew Whitehill, of Greater Manchester Police said: "Gibbons' callous and cowardly actions left an elderly man with serious and life-changing injuries.
"The victim showed incredible bravery and strength in not only fighting back against Gibbons' actions but also to be able to survive this kind of horrific attack.''
