Hebburn garage boss blamed customer for e-bike hit-and-run smash
A garage boss from Hebburn blamed one of his customer’s for an e-bike hit-and-run smash.
A garage boss who seriously injured an e-bike rider in a hit-and-run smash then blamed one of his customers has been put behind bars.
George Charlton was in a Seat Leon belonging to a client at the garage he co-owns when he overtook a line of stationary vehicles at a red light on a T-junction and hit the victim head-on.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the e-bike rider, who was in his 20s and driving legally, was "catapulted" into the Seat's windscreen then launched back and propelled into a street post.
The victim suffered a fractured femur and ankle as well as wounds and needed a surgery and blood transfusion.
Dumped car -then took a snap of crime scene
Charlton dumped the car he had been in and arranged to be picked up in another vehicle then went home, changed his clothes and travelled to Berwick.
He bizarrely took a picture of the crime scene, with emergency services in attendance, when he passed it during the journey.
The court heard Charlton was arrested eight days after the collision in November last year and denied he had been behind the wheel of the Seat.
Denied being behind the wheel
Judge Edward Bindloss said: "In a defence statement you denied you were the driver and blamed a customer at your garage, the owner of the Seat Leon, and said he had left you and driven off in the Seat shortly before the incident."
Charlton, 22, of Hautmont Road, Hebburn, South Tyneside, was initially accused of attempted murder but he later pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, which prosecutors accepted.
Judge Bindloss today jailed him for 31 months and banned him from driving for five years.
The court heard the crash happened at a junction on Sunderland Road in Gateshead, which has a 30mph limit, last November and shocking footage of what happened was shown in court.
Prosecutor Jolyon Perks said there was "significant damage" to the front end of the Seat, including two impact marks which broke the windscreen.
Victim took three months to recover
The victim, who did not co-operate with the prosecution, spent a week in hospital and medics say he could have taken three months to recover.
Police were at the scene within three minutes, by which time the e-bike had gone and has never been found.
Charlton, who was not insured to drive the Seat, had left immediately and thirty seconds after the collision he made a call to arrange to be picked up by another vehicle.
Investigations on the Seat showed the acceleration was at 100 per cent just seconds before the crash and it had been travelling at 37mph on impact.
Judge Bindloss told Charlton: "You approached a queue of stationary vehicles being held at a red light.
"Notwithstanding there was a red light nor that there was stationary vehicles in front of you on the carriageway, you decided to overtake.
"You passed onto the opposing carriageway, overtaking the stationary vehicles waiting to go through the light at the T-junction.
"(The victim) was turning lawfully onto his own carriageway and crossed into your path and there was a head-on collision.
"He was catapulted into the windscreen of your car and launched against a post."
Judge Bindloss added: "After the impact you could have stayed at the scene and helped him and called the emergency services but you didn't, you accelerated away."
The court heard references describe Charlton, who has never been in any trouble before and has shown remorse, as polite and respectful, a hard-working family man, a caring person and he has become an enhanced prisoner while on remand who helps other inmates.
Syam Soni, defending, said Charlton had an unblemished driving record and worked hard to build a business and a life for himself and his family.