Sentence Was Disgusting

The family of a teenager knocked unconscious by a drink-driver have described his sentence as “disgusting”.

Jake Hammond, 15, was crossing the road on his bike when he was hit by the car, throwing him into the air.

He suffered concussion, severe bruising and swelling on his back, chest and legs and internal bleeding in his leg.

On Tuesday, driver Julian Gardner, 50, was given an eight-week suspended prison sentence by Hinckley magistrates.

Jake’s father Neale, of Leicester Forest East, said afterwards: “It’s disgusting. He should have got two years. He nearly killed him.”

Gardner, of Somerfield Way, Leicester Forest East, was found responsible for the accident on a pelican crossing on the A47 in Leicester Forest East, on March 13.

He had previously pleaded guilty to drink-driving.

Tuesday’s hearing was held to establish who was to blame after Gardner claimed that Jake had lost control of his bike and crashed into his car.

“I didn’t hit him, he hit me,” he said.

But the magistrates believed Jake, who said he could not do stunts on his bike because of curvature of the spine.

Two friends backed up Jake’s evidence that he was riding normally, that the traffic lights had turned amber and that other traffic had stopped when Gardner’s gold Volvo hit him.

Tests showed Gardner had 108 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Mr Hammond and his wife Debbie said they would now sue him for compensation.

Jake still needed physiotherapy, had flashbacks and still feels unable to go out on his own. “Afterwards I couldn’t move for ages,” said Jake. “I was hobbling around. My ankles were black and my legs. I get headaches. I don’t go out now without my mates.”

His mum Debbie said: “He is going to suffer for months.”

Mr Hammond said: “To me, getting behind the wheel of a car when you have been drinking is pre-meditated.

“He should be banned from the road for good and put behind bars.”

Magistrates heard Gardner was of previous good character.

Sarah Solomon, for Gardner, said he had been depressed because of financial worries.

Jim Mason, for the prosecution, asked if he thought he was over the limit. He said: “Yes, but unfortunately I felt no effects from the alcohol at all.”

His sentence was suspended for a year. He was given a 12-month supervision order, and ordered to attend a probation service drivers’ course.

He was banned from driving for two years, reduced by six months if he takes a rehabilitation course as well as the probation course.