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National
Rob Kennedy

Lemington hit-and-run drink driver ploughed into pedestrian on path in West Denton then fled scene

A drunk hit-and-run driver who mowed down a pedestrian on a path then fled the scene has been jailed.

Alan Stewart had been to the pub and consumed four or five pints when he got behind the wheel of a colleague's car.

In his intoxicated state, he took a bend far in excess of the speed limit and lost control, mounting the pavement and knocking over Liam Anderson.

Read more: Brunswick Village: Newcastle man describes moment he found injured woman while out walking his dogs

Newcastle Crown Court heard the victim was flipped onto the car and his head left an impression on the windscreen.

He was then sent crashing to the ground. Despite not knowing what state he was in, Stewart sped off in the Mercedes.

Now the 41-year-old, of Broadway, Lemington, Newcastle, has been jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.

The court heard it was on July 12 last year that Stewart made the "arrogant" decision to drive while over the limit and uninsured.

Stewart, who has a previous conviction for drink driving in 2007 and one for failing to stop in 2015, was on Hexham Road, West Denton, Newcastle, when he lost control.

A friend of Mr Anderson estimated he could have been doing 60 to 70mph on the bend of the 40mph road when it happened.

Sentencing him, Judge Tim Gittins said: "You mounted the pavement and struck the unfortunate and wholly blameless victim. You could have struck a group of his friends nearby but they managed to leap out of the way, having been alerted to it by the noise your tyres were making.

"Having struck him, you struck a lamp-post, flipping him onto the windscreen, such that his head left an impression on the windscreen and knocking him onto the road and pavement. With him lying there you then reversed and in what can only be described as a callous and selfish act, you drove off."

One of Mr Anderson's friends had the presence of mind to take a photograph of the car registration as it fled the scene, despite the car being substantially damaged.

Judge Gittins said: "It's only good fortune that you did not cause untold serious damage to Mr Anderson or kill him and his friends."

The victim escaped with a serious cut to his head and abrasions and cuts elsewhere. When police went to Stewart's home, he asked how the victim was and said he couldn't believe he drove away and "felt awful" and became upset.

Stewart was originally charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving but prosecutors accepted a guilty plea to dangerous driving as the injuries were not classed as serious enough for the initial charge.

He also admitted failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis, having failed an initial breath test, and driving without insurance.

The judge said Mr Anderson had been left physically and mentally "deeply affected" by what happened.

Richard Bloomfield, defending, said Stewart was in full time work and had his own home, which would be jeopardised by him going to prison. The court heard Stewart was remorseful for his behaviour.

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