A motorist has been jailed for a fail-to-stop road traffic collision in Weymouth that left a man with serious injuries.
Leon Fowler, aged 25 and of Bournemouth, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Monday 28 October 2024 after admitting offences of driving a motor vehicle dangerously, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, attempted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, failing to stop after a road accident and failing to report a road accident.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison and disqualified from driving for six and a half years. Fowler was also made the subject of a restraining order for a period of ten years, preventing him from contacting his victims.
At around 8.30pm on Tuesday 16 July 2024 Fowler was driving a black Golf in Abbotsbury Road, near to the junction of Cromwell Road, when he drove the vehicle intentionally into two men who were walking along the pavement.
The vehicle was left a short distance from the scene, with Fowler making off on foot.
Emergency services attended and one of the victims, a man aged in his 20s who was known to Fowler, was taken by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital. He sustained serious facial injuries that required reconstructive surgery as well as an injury to his arm.
The other victim sustained injuries to his face and head that were not believed to be serious.
Following extensive enquiries, officers identified Fowler as the offender and he was arrested the following day.
A 59-year-old man who was also arrested in connection with the incident was subsequently released without charge.
Detective Constable Donna Taylor, of Dorset County CID, said: “Leon Fowler effectively used his vehicle as a weapon, intentionally driving into his victims, leaving one of them with very serious injuries. His reckless actions could easily have had fatal consequences.
“We responded swiftly to the incident and through detailed enquiries were able to identify Fowler as the offender and apprehend him.
“Detectives have since been compiling evidence to put before the court to ensure he is held accountable for his extremely dangerous actions.”
