A successful North East businessman has been given a suspended prison sentence for causing serious injury by dangerous driving after knocking over a former employee.
Scott Baines, 50, of Attingham Close, Sunderland, pleaded guilty to the charge at Newcastle Crown Court. The court heard that Baines and the victim had known each other for years, with the victim previously working for Baines' firm. However, they did not interact well and there was friction between them, which came to a head during the Covid pandemic.
Incident details
On June 27 last year, Baines sent the victim an email asking him not to abuse him or his family unless he was willing to accept the consequences. The email also referenced an offer to sit down and talk, but no reply was received.
The following morning, just after 11am, the victim was at his home on Maple Avenue, Sunderland, putting out rubbish when he saw Baines driving a Land Rover Discovery. Baines drove past, and the victim went to his gate and to a more public part of the road. Other family members came out and called for him to go back inside.
Baines then reversed back up the road and knocked the victim over at low speed. The victim suffered a complex cut and lacerations to his head requiring ten stitches, along with abrasions and bruises to his elbow and shins.
Impact and sentencing
In a victim impact statement, the man said the after-effects were life-changing for his wife and daughter, leaving him feeling on edge and unable to relax.
Judge Tom Moran told Baines: "You worked together with the victim and there was a falling out. Bad feeling festered for quite some time." He noted the offence involved a confrontation that both could have stepped away from. The judge said the victim approached Baines' car and touched it, but it was unclear if he was trying to open a door on CCTV.
Judge Moran said: "You drove towards him at low speed, sufficient to knock him over. You didn't run him over. You didn't think he was seriously hurt because he got back to his feet straight away. It was a highly dangerous thing to do."
The court heard that Baines had provided a large number of references, and a pre-sentence report author said he was "visibly distressed and feels terrible guilt for the harm he caused".
Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said Baines employs several people and would have had to wind up his business if jailed. He also cares for his son.
Baines was sentenced to 14 months suspended for 12 months, with 160 hours of unpaid work. He was banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay costs.
