Newport man jailed for trapping woman and dog under car in crash

A driver who trapped a 63-year-old woman and her dog under his car after hitting them while out on an early morning walk, has been jailed for 20 months.

The victim, referred to in court as Mrs Davies, had to undergo extensive surgery after the VW Passat mounted a kerb in Newport.

Ian Probert, 41, from Bettws in the city, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Cardiff Crown Court.

Mrs Davies suffered significant injuries, including broken bones while her seven-year-old German Shepherd, Frisby, had minor injuries.

Judge Eugene Egan said leaving the scene in Rowan Way at 06:35 GMT on 13 January, without helping the victim and buying a bottle of vodka was “a shameless thing to do”.

Probert also admitted failing to report a road traffic accident and failing to give information about the identity of the driver of a vehicle.

Doorbell footage showed his VW Passat turning sharply from Pillmawr Road onto Rowan Way at about 24 mph (39km/h), mounting a kerb, hitting the victim and her dog, and ending up in a garden hedge.

Investigators found the car’s brakes were not used before the collision and after driving over the victim, two attempts were made to reverse back out onto the road.

A crane was needed to lift it off Mrs Davies, who suffered life-threatening injuries including a broken nose, bruising, cuts and grazes as well as fractures to her knees, legs and ankles.

She needed extensive surgery, including fitting several metal plates, at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

Mrs Davies spent a total of 13 days in hospital and is still in rehabilitation nine months later.

CCTV later showed aerospace worker Probert walking unsteadily away from his car and buying vodka nearby.

After police launched a £1,000 Crimestoppers appeal, he handed himself in on 17 January, claiming he had not realised anyone was there.

In a statement read by her son, Mrs Davies said she goes over the events “over and over and over again”.

“As I lay there under the car, the occupants left me there and for all they knew leaving me to die,” she said.

“It made me feel worthless then and it makes me feel worthless now.”

“I was robbed of my freedom, trapped in my own bed, a prisoner in my own home,” the statement read.

Mrs Davies now avoids roads, living in constant fear and stress, and suffers nightmares and flashbacks while undergoing psychological treatment for her trauma.

She also feels guilt about becoming a “burden” to her children as she has had to rely on them to help “in the most basic of personal needs”.

Father-of-two Probert broke down in tears in the dock three times during the two-hour long hearing.

Judge Egan said the victim had been “scarred for life and her prognosis was uncertain”.

Probert was jailed and banned from driving for six years and 10 months.