A man who reversed his car into a trainee paramedic, knocking her to the ground and causing a head injury, before swearing at her and driving off has been sentenced.
James Sprake, 31, of the Maritime Quarter in Swansea, appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to failing to stop after an accident and driving without due care and attention. The incident also put him in breach of a suspended sentence order.
The incident
The court heard that on the evening of December 12 last year, Sprake had gone to a shop and upon returning to his car parked on Page Street in Swansea, he “reversed backwards at speed.” A young woman, a trainee paramedic, was in his path. He struck her, knocking her to the ground and causing a head injury.
Sprake then said to the woman: “What the f*** were you doing in the middle of the road?” before driving off.
Injuries and impact
The paramedic was taken to hospital by ambulance, where a CT scan revealed soft tissue injuries and a concussion. A statement read to the court on her behalf detailed how she had suffered “persistent headaches and overwhelming fatigue” following the incident and how the collision had “impacted day to day tasks” with her requiring assistance from others.
Court proceedings
When arrested and interviewed, Sprake gave no comment answers to police questions. His barrister, Alex Scott, said: “The defendant went to the shop to purchase items and when he returned reversed his vehicle and in doing so collided with the victim. He accepts that despite it being dark he didn't pay the attention he should have. His actions, the comments he made and leaving the scene was born out of panic. He wishes to apologise.”
Sentencing Sprake, recorder David Harris said: “You reversed at speed, plainly without proper regard for who was behind you. Behind you was a young woman, a trainee paramedic. You struck her and knocked her to the ground, causing her to sustain a head injury.
“Your reaction, having knocked her to the ground, where she lay bleeding with facial injuries caused, was not to call for an ambulance or show any concern for her welfare, but to shout at her ‘what were you f****** doing in the middle of the road’ before driving off and leaving her bleeding on the floor. It was others who had to call for an ambulance.”
Sentence
Sprake was sentenced to an 18-month community order, comprising 180 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. He was also disqualified from driving for a year and fined £120.
