TWO men who were involved in a hit-and-run collision in Warrington which left a local teenager with life-changing injuries, including brain damage and a punctured lung, have both been jailed.
Elliot Watson, aged 36 and Barclay Redford, aged 18, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court today, Friday 17 December, to be sentenced in relation to the fail to stop collision on Battersby Lane on Friday 29 October involving an 18-year old who was simply helping his younger brother cross the road.
Watson of Smith Street, Warrington, was sentenced to 44 months in prison and banned from driving for eight years and 10 months. he had earlier pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle theft, failing to stop following a collision, failing to report a collision and driving without insurance.
Redford, of Grange Farm Close, Great Sankey, was sentenced to 10 months in prison having previously admitted aggravated vehicle theft. He also received 10 penalty points on his driving licence.
On the night of the incident Watson and Redford had asked Watson’s partner to give them a lift, as they wanted to buy some nitrous oxide canisters. After Watson’s partner refused, the pair decided to steal the car and go to buy the nitrous oxide anyway.
At around 9.40pm the car, a Vauxhall Astra, was seen driving at speed on Marsh House Lane, before turning onto Battersby Lane, where it collided with an 18-year-old local man who was crossing the road. Rather than stopping to help the teenager, Watson and Redford drove off before dumping the car on Greenings Court.
Emergency services attended the scene and the victim was taken to hospital with serious life-changing injuries – these included serious brain injuries, multiple head and rib fractures and a punctured lung.
Watson and Redford were subsequently located hiding at a house in Warrington and were both arrested. The pair were later charged in connection with the incident.
Following the sentencing, Sergeant Simon Degg, from the Serious and Complex Collision Investigation Unit, said: “The victim, in this case, was an innocent young man who was simply helping his younger brother to cross the road after a visit to the local shop. Sadly, as a result of the actions of Watson and Redford that day, his life will never be the same again.
“The pair would have been well aware that the victim had sustained serious injuries following the collision, yet rather than stopping to help the teenager, they chose to drive off leaving him in the middle of road with serious injuries.
“Thankfully, as a result of the efforts of the paramedics who attended the scene and the medical staff who have treated him, the victim is now starting to recover from his injuries, although they are likely to impact him for the rest of his life.
“While nothing can turn back time, I do hope that the sentences handed to Watson and Redford will provide the victim and his family, with some form of closure and help them to move forward with their lives.”
The family of the victim added: “We as a family are now happy this case has been finalised and we would like to thank all those involved, including the passers-by and neighbours who helped Dylan, as he lay on the road before the emergency services arrived.
“We would especially like to thank the ambulance crews, the police, air ambulance doctors, Aintree A&E, The Walton Centre ITU, Aintree ITU, Walton Cairns ward, the Serious and Complex Collision Investigation Unit, our family liaison officer and our family, friends and work colleagues who have helped us through this very difficult time.”
