An audiologist who left a dad with devastating injuries after running him over in Bolton has avoided jail.
Mohammed Patel smashed into pedestrian Karl Vause at speeds of up to 50mph as he walked to Tesco Express last year.
The father-of-two had been crossing Wigan Road when he was struck on May 20, causing him to be ‘flung in the air’.
His injuries have left him unable to dress himself or even make a cup of tea.
Bolton Crown Court heard how Patel had been driving a BMW M4 at the time of the collision.
The 24-year-old, of Essingdon Street, Daubhill, was being paid to deliver cars alongside working as an audiologist.
CCTV captured him driving towards the crash site exceeding speeds of 80mph while delivering a sports car.
After reaching Wigan Road, witnesses described seeing him drive between 40 to 50mph in a 30 zone.
He braked ‘at the last moment’ after spotting Mr Vause in the middle of the road, but it was already too late.
The impact left him with several broken bones, with one of his elbows completely smashed, and nerve damage to his right side.
The court heard how he screamed in ‘excruciating pain’ while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
Prosecution barrister, Nicholas Flanagan, told the court Patel continued to drive away from the crash scene and stopped in a lay-by further down the road.
Nearby CCTV footage showed him exit the vehicle and look for damage before heading back over to Mr Vause.
Patel claimed he was making sure his handbrake was on instead of checking the vehicle over.
When interviewed by police, Patel denied driving dangerously.
He claimed that Mr Vause stepped backwards into the lane he was driving in.
He eventually pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
In a victim personal statement, Mr Vause said he had enjoyed an active lifestyle before the accident.
Just two years earlier, he completed a 19-hour endurance test in which he canoed across Lake Windermere.
He also cycled 22km and climbed Scafell Pike.
He told the court he loved playing football and mountain biking with his children, as well as cooking and gardening, but can no longer do any of those things.
He revealed his wife now has to wake up at 5am every day to help dress and shower him.
The couple have been forced to put their marriage on hold and move house.
Speaking to the court, he said: "[My partner] Ashley now has to do everything around the house. I can't even make a cup of tea.
"The accident has affected my whole family, not just me.
"My children have lost the active dad they had.
"The driver is facing a possible prison sentence, in my body, it's me that's doing the sentence.
"He may spend a few years of his life in prison but I'll have to live with this.
"I think going to prison is a lesser punishment than what I'm going through."
While giving evidence, Patel said the silencer on his exhaust had been removed prior to the incident.
He said the noise could have given the illusion that he was travelling faster than he was.
He said: “The silencer on my exhaust was removed, so if I’m not going fast, it still seems quite loud.
“That could have made witnesses think I was going faster.
“I overtook a car at the top of the hill, around 90 metres from impact.
“I started to decelerate as I saw (Mr Vause) in the middle of the road.”
Following the collision, he said his window screen had smashed and could not see where he was driving.
Because of this, he continued down the road so he could roll the car into a layby.
Patel said he had “no intention of running away”.
Despite driving in excess of 80mph around 100 metres away from the crash site, Patel believed he was driving up to 45mph at the point of the collision.
Patel and several other passengers in his car stayed at the scene and cooperated with emergency services following the incident.
Steven Levine, defending, said: “He is very remorseful. He has his wife and father here. He did not intend to hurt Mr Vause. He’s 24 and has his whole life ahead of him.
“Nothing will be gained by sending this man to prison. He is newly married and will leave his job. He has learnt his lesson in the most extreme way possible. I ensure you he understands his behaviour.
“If you suspend (the sentence), you will never see him before a criminal court again.”
Before passing sentence, Judge Graeme Smith said he believed Patel was driving at speeds of 40 to 50mph at the point of the crash.
He said he decelerated at the last moment which caused a screeching of brakes.
However, he added it was “disappointing” that Patel had claimed to be checking the vehicle’s handbrake following the collision when CCTV showed him looking for damage.
He said: “The defendant looked at the victim, then looked at the car. The passenger was looking at the car in a very casual manner. He was not running up the road.
“They then did go to the impact scene and cooperate with police.
“I am sure that the defendant, having driven at 85mph and overtaking a car, decelerated down the hill to 40/50mph before braking at the last moment.
“Mr Vause has suffered, and continues to suffer, considerable harm. He was in excruciating pain and has to get visits from therapists.
“He was an active person and can no longer continue that activity. His partner struggles to care for him and their sons. He describes rehabilitation as a full-time job and his income has been impacted.
“The impact of his injuries has impacted his two children, aged nine and 13, not only him and his partner. You should have been cautious while driving the car. You were unfamiliar with it.
“Your attempt to justify your actions to retract your remorse. That would have been very hard for Mr Vause to listen to. You are both impacted, but it’s entirely your fault and not his. You will both live with it, but you live with the guilt.”
Patel was sentenced to 18 months in custody, suspended for two years.
He was also handed 300 hours unpaid work, a curfew for six months between 8pm and 7am and a two-year driving disqualification.
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