A man was left with a bleed to the brain after being run over by his long-term friend who had come to pick him up after a night out. Swansea Crown Court heard how Mehmet Celik and Thomas Rees had known each other a long time, having gone to school together and lived with one another at university.
On August 25, 2024, Mr Rees had gone for a night out in Mumbles to enjoy an evening of live music at Cu before then visiting the old Gin and Juice bar, where he remained until shortly after 1am. When it was time to go home he messaged Celik, who had arranged to pick him up, and they planned a meeting point near Joe's ice cream parlour on Mumbles Road.
Prosecuting barrister Ryan Bowen told the court how Celik arrived in his Kia Rio and 'sped past', using a wide junction to turn around, and Mr Rees decided to cross to be on the correct side of the road to get in the passenger side. But as he stepped out onto the road, Celik collided with Mr Rees, throwing him into the air, knocking off his wristwear and shoes.
The incident, captured on CCTV at 1.06am, showed people running to Mr Rees' aid as he lay on the road unconscious. This included Celik, who the court heard was 'hysterical.' Mr Rees had stepped out onto the carriageway for a total of six seconds, the court heard.
A police report concluded how Celik was travelling up to 36mph on the wrong side of the carriageway. He had not been deemed unfit to drive and there were no obstructions to his view whilst driving. The front windscreen of the car was smashed, its bonnet left heavily dented, and headlights broken.
Mr Rees was airlifted to the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff to receive treatment for his injuries, where he remained until September 12, 2024, before being transferred to Neath Port Talbot Hospital. Among his injuries, he suffered bleeding to the brain, a blood clot to his lungs, a broken breast bone, and a fractured fibula.
A victim impact statement was read out to the court on behalf of Mr Rees, who described his recovery as 'prolonged and deeply upsetting.' It described how he has had to rely on the support of his partner and family to plan his life, and how every decision had been 'shaped by his limitations.' He explained how his self-confidence had been dented, and that he continues to suffer reduced stamina.
Celik, aged 24, from Gurnos Road, Ystradgynlais, appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
David Singh, for Celik, told the court: 'This was an appalling lack of judgement by the defendant. There has always been a correlation between young men and demonstrations of bravado and driving in a certain manner. Fortunately the consequences were not fatal. He has lost his friendship through a moment of utter madness. There was nothing sinister. This was a misguided attempt to show off which backfired spectacularly.'
'He had the good sense to plead guilty at the first available opportunity, with his guilty plea the best indication of remorse and regret. It has been two years since the offence itself, and in that time he has built a business, employing five members of staff. It is highly unlikely this defendant will reoffend. He has learnt his lesson the hard way. This was not prolonged dangerous driving and took place over a relatively short distance. This was an inexplicable decision to show off, and show bravado, which backfired spectacularly. He has sincere remorse for what happened. There are terrible circumstances for everybody involved.'
Sentencing Celik, Judge Geraint Walters said: 'This is a case of two young men, mates at school, who shared a room at university together, and one ends up maiming the other in a moment of complete and utter, on the face of it, madness. It is us judges who are left to pick up the pieces, and whatever decision we come to, it's never going to be right.'
'When you arrived in Mumbles, you entered a 20mph zone, much lamented by many, and drove at a plainly excessive speed in wet conditions and, as something of a game, on the wrong side of the road. Your friend was mowed down by you, and the whole thing is captured on CCTV. You and I today could be facing each other in this same court room with the consequence being me having to sentence you to death by dangerous driving. What stands between that result and the one you're going to get today is nothing more than pure luck.'
'When will young people learn the road is not a playground? Every day you set foot in your car you take your own life and every other road user in your hands. It's a constant surprise to me that new or relatively new drivers are not curbed in the activity they may perform in motor cars until they perform relative maturity in motor cars. You're not alone in this. You can't take to the roads without finding a youngster or some older people who think the road is a race track which they own.'
'Since the time of the incident, you have been unable to move on with your life, unlike your victim, running your own business in Swansea. Your victim isn't as lucky, and still bears the scars of what you did.'
Celik was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. He must carry out 300 hours unpaid work, and has been made subject of an electronically-monitored curfew for four months between the hours of 8am and midnight. He has also been disqualified from driving for two years, and told he will remain disqualified until he passes an extended driving test.
