Siân, instructed by Emily Alexander of Roach Pittis solicitors, acted for a vulnerable defendant who pleaded guilty on an acceptable basis to an offence of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The defendant, who was elderly and previously of good character, misapplied the pedals of his automatic car which had been left in reverse at a supermarket carpark. The car travelled backwards at speed, hitting and injuring the victim who suffered head and neck fractures and life-threatening brain injuries. The incident also involved the defendant’s partner who, while she did not form part of the crown’s case, suffered permanent injury from the collision, resulting in her being dependent on the defendant’s full-time care.

At the sentencing hearing, with the use of the recently effective sentencing guidelines for this offence, Siân presented the defendant’s compelling mitigation including the engagement of the article 8 rights of the dependent partner, and persuaded the judge that a stand-alone suspended sentence would be appropriate in all the circumstances.