Teenager had part of leg amputated because of unlicensed taxi driver
The 16-year-old victim had enjoyed playing football, boxing, and riding his bike before the crash, Merthyr Crown Court heard. He had just embarked on an apprenticeship, however that all changed in a moment. The victim's mum told how proud she was of the resilience her son had shown, reports WalesOnline.
Rebecca Griffiths, prosecuting, told the court on the night of October 22, 2022, Wicks was using a VW Caddy van to operate an unlicensed taxi business when he responded to a request put out on Snapchat to ferry a party-of-five from Pentre to the Squares club in Porth.
A price of £20 was agreed and the defendant picked up his fare. The court heard the passengers got into the rear cargo area of the van - which did not have seats or seatbelts - and Wicks set off with a youth who was helping him sat beside him in the front passenger seat.
The court heard that as the Caddy headed for Porth it was seen to suddenly swerve across the road and mount the pavement, hitting a 16-year-old boy who was walking home having spent the evening watching TV with friends. The van then collided with a wall before spinning back into the road.
The prosecutor said Wicks got out of the van and was heard to shout at the youth sat next to him about pulling on the handbrake saying "You have been doing it all f****** night". For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter
People living on the street rushed to help the casualty and the boy's mum was alerted to what had happened and was soon on the scene.
Paramedics subsequently arrived and the casualty was taken to Swansea's Morriston Hospital. The court heard that such was the damage to the boy's right leg doctors decided that the lower part of the limb could not be saved, and following discussions with the patient and his parent the decision was taken to carry out a partial amputation.
Meanwhile Wicks had been arrested at the scene and was noted to "emotional" and worried for the welfare of the casualty. He told officers he had been the one driving the van and said his passenger had operated the handbrake while he was driving.
In a statement from the victim's mother which was read to the court by the prosecutor she set out the impact of the collision and her son's injuries.
She said when she arrived at the scene and saw her son laying motionless on the floor with people gathered around him sheltering him from the rain with umbrellas she thought he was dead.
The mum said prior to the accident her son enjoyed boxing, playing football, and riding his bike and scooter, and said he had just started an apprenticeship as a carpenter which was something he really enjoyed.
She said all that changed as a result of what happened, and she said she is concerned for what the future may hold for her son.
The mum said her son does not like using crutches or his wheelchair and does not like going without his prosthetic foot as he "does not like to be seen as different". She said her son had worked hard at rehabilitation and she said she was very proud of his resilience.
Jarrad Wicks, aged 25, of Bryn Ffynon, Trebanog, Porth, had previously pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
The plea was entered on the basis that he had been exceeding the 30mph speed limit but had been doing no more than 40mph and that his passenger - who had originally been a co-defendant - had pulled on the handbrake. The plea was acceptable to the prosecution.
Martha Smith-Higgins, for Wicks, said the defendant wanted the to apologise to the victim and his family and that he is "deeply sorry" for what happened.
He said her client had been working as a bus driver at the time of the collision but lost that employment as a result of his conviction, and she said it was clear from the contents of the pre-sentence report that his behaviour had been "immature and reckless" but that he had done a lot of growing up in the years since the incident.
With a one-quarter discount for his guilty plea Wicks was sentenced to 27 months in prison. He will serve up to half that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant was banned from driving for 39 months and must pass an extended test before he can get his licence back.
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Leader Live
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Hit-and-run driver locked up for 13 years over death of baby
Renju Joseph, 31, was struck by a car driven at high speed by Ashir Shahid, 20, as she walked on a zebra crossing in the village of Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. The Toyota Prius was estimated to be travelling at between 58mph and 71mph at the time, in dark, wet conditions, in a 30mph zone, Preston Crown Court heard. Mrs Joseph was taken to hospital from the scene in Station Road in the early evening of September 29, and an emergency C-section was carried out in an attempt to save the life of her son, Olive. She was walking slightly behind two female colleagues on the crossing at about 7.50pm as they headed to work a night shift at a local care home. A motorist travelling in the opposite direction said the Prius driver seemed to increase speed about 15 metres away from the crossing and then swerved from the two pedestrians in front. The pregnant woman was hit and 'thrown into the air for quite some distance' before she tumbled and rolled into his car, said the witness. Prosecutors said the driving of Shahid before the collision also 'left a lot to be desired'. Video clips recovered from his mobile phone and that of his front seat passenger, younger brother Sam Shahid, 17, showed them laughing and singing to music as the car is driven erratically and at speed. Sam Shahid was also seen to put his feet and upper body out of the window while the driver removes both hands from the wheel at times and makes gun gestures. Minutes after the collision the Toyota was abandoned in a side street and covered with a sheet by the defendants, before others moved the vehicle on to the back of flatbed truck and dumped it in Farnworth, Greater Manchester. Ashir Shahid was arrested days later and made no comment when interviewed, but when his phone was examined it revealed that on the night of the collision he made an online search for 'charge for hit and run human'. A video clip on his Snapchat account also showed him singing along to the Shaggy song It Wasn't Me and laughing. Voice note recordings were also discovered of Sam Shahid rapping: 'Ran that bitch over, baby got packed. She still not woke up, she still asleep.' Ashir Shahid, of Windsor Road, Walton le Dale, Preston, pleaded guilty in June to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. On Friday, he was also banned from driving for 15 years and one month, and must pass an extended retest. Sam Shahid, also of Windsor Road, was detained for three years after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. Sentencing, Judge Ian Unsworth KC said Ashir Shahid's acceleration in the moments before the crash was 'akin to what you may see on a Formula 1 race track'. He said: 'Your driving was nothing less than appalling. You engaged in a prolonged and persistent course of dangerous driving. 'Your speed was significantly in excess of the speed limit and was highly inappropriate for the prevailing road conditions. 'Olive's life lasted five hours and 38 minutes. He did not live to see dawn. His mother never saw him alive. 'His life was snubbed out before it really began.' Mrs Joseph spent a fortnight in a coma before she learned of the death of her son, the court heard. She and her nurse husband, Nyjil Jonn, had planned a gender reveal party at a baby shower for family and friends on October 2. One of her last memories before the collision was buying a dress to wear for the occasion, she said in a victim personal statement read out to the court. Mrs Joseph said: 'Everything has been ruined by that one night and the callous and reckless actions of those two people in that car. My life will never by the same again. 'I will never get to meet my baby, be a mummy to him or watch him grow up. They have taken my first child away from me and I will never get him back.' Mr Joseph said it was 'incomprehensible' to see their son placed on the lap of his unconscious wife as she fought for her life. He said he was scared for the future of the couple, both originally from India, and the possible long-term impact on his wife. Mrs Joseph suffered life-changing injuries including a bleed to the brain, a cracked spinal cord and fractures to her pelvis, ribs and leg. She has had to learn to walk again but struggles to stand for long periods of time, the court heard. Jonathan Duffy, defending Ashir Shahid, who has no previous convictions, said: 'Of course he knew that he had struck a pedestrian but didn't know at the time how seriously injured Mrs Joseph was. 'He deeply regrets his behaviour immediately after the offence, All he can say is that he panicked and was in shock.' Shahid had expressed feelings of shame, guilt and remorse in a letter to the court, he said. Fellow defence barrister Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe, said Sam Shahid explained to her that rapping about something as serious as these events 'makes it easier for him to cope with, as odd as that sounds'. She said: 'While Sam clearly has difficulties of his own, he has ambitions. He says he wants to join the Army.' Sam Shahid had six prior convictions for 13 offences including burglary and vehicle theft, the court was told. Judge Unsworth told the defendants: 'You seemingly have no moral compass. Throughout these proceedings you have sat with your heads down as if in shame. You have no shame.' He noted how they both 'disappeared into the night like cowards' following the collision and then shortly after acted with 'breathtaking coolness' as they began a cover-up operation. He told them they had 'not shown a care in the world for anyone and anything around you' as they careered through residential streets at dangerously high speeds. Judge Unsworth said: 'Your arrogant, selfish and shameless actions put multiple people at risk including yourselves. 'Neither of you have a shred of remorse for your involvement that evening.' He told Sam Shahid: 'You sang utterly vile rap songs in which you glorified the events of that evening and speak in utterly despicable ways of Renju and her dead son Olive. It defies belief. 'You have an ingrained criminality and are someone who at the age of 17 seems to revel in and take pleasure from it.' Following sentence, the Josephs' lawyer, Cathy Leach – of JMW Solicitors, said: 'The enormity of the tragic effects of the accident and the injuries sustained, are something Renju and Nyjil will live with daily. 'Their lives will never be the same. They wish to retain their privacy but have specifically asked us, as their lawyers, to pass on their thanks be passed on to the many people who have been magnificent in their response to the tragedy. 'They specially want to mention the other road users and people who were witnesses to the terrible accident who took the trouble gave evidence to the police and the court.' Det Chief Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Constabulary's major investigation team, said: 'My thoughts first and foremost today are with Renju and family. They have been through the most appalling ordeal and my heart goes out to them. 'They have shown the most incredible dignity and courage since this tragic collision and throughout these proceedings. 'In contrast Ashir Shahid and his co-defendant have shown nothing but arrogance and a lack of remorse for what they have done.'
Metro
8 hours ago
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A 17-year-old rapped 'ran that b**** over, baby got packed' after a car he was in mowed down a five months pregnant student and killed her baby boy. Renju Joseph, 31, was hit by a speeding car as she walked on a zebra crossing in the village of Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. Ashir Shahid, 20, was driving the Toyota Prius between 58mph and 71mph despite being in a 30mph zone in dark, wet conditions, Preston Crown Court. He was jailed for 13 years alongside the car's front passenger, his 17-year-old brother Sam Shahid, who was detained for three years after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. The care home worker was en route to a night shift with two female colleagues last September 29 when she was 'thrown into the air for some quite some distance' in the crash, a witness said. The expectant mum was taken to hospital after the crash where doctors tried to save the life of her son, Olive, with an emergency c-section. 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Jonathan Duffy, defending Ashir Shahid, who has no previous convictions, said: 'Of course he knew that he had struck a pedestrian but didn't know at the time how seriously injured Mrs Joseph was. 'He deeply regrets his behaviour immediately after the offence, All he can say is that he panicked and was in shock.' Shahid had expressed feelings of shame, guilt and remorse in a letter to the court, he said. Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe, defending Sam Shahid, said he told her that rapping about something as serious as these events 'makes it easier for him to cope with, as odd as that sounds'. She said: 'While Sam clearly has difficulties of his own, he has ambitions. He says he wants to join the Army.' Sam Shahid had six prior convictions for 13 offences including burglary and vehicle theft, the court was told. Judge Unsworth told the defendants: 'You seemingly have no moral compass. Throughout these proceedings you have sat with your heads down as if in shame. You have no shame.' He described how they both 'disappeared into the night like cowards' following the collision and then shortly after acted with 'breathtaking coolness' as they began a cover-up operation. He told them they had 'not shown a care in the world for anyone and anything around you' as they careered through residential streets at dangerously high speeds. More Trending Judge Unsworth said: 'Your arrogant, selfish and shameless actions put multiple people at risk including yourselves. 'Neither of you have a shred of remorse for your involvement that evening.' He told Sam Shahid: 'You sang utterly vile rap songs in which you glorified the events of that evening and speak in utterly despicable ways of Renju and her dead son Olive. It defies belief. 'You have an ingrained criminality and are someone who at the age of 17 seems to revel in and take pleasure from it.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. 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Rhyl Journal
11 hours ago
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Hit-and-run driver locked up for 13 years over death of baby
Renju Joseph, 31, was struck by a car driven at high speed by Ashir Shahid, 20, as she walked on a zebra crossing in the village of Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. The Toyota Prius was estimated to be travelling at between 58mph and 71mph at the time, in dark, wet conditions, in a 30mph zone, Preston Crown Court heard. Mrs Joseph was taken to hospital from the scene in Station Road in the early evening of September 29, and an emergency C-section was carried out in an attempt to save the life of her son, Olive. She was walking slightly behind two female colleagues on the crossing at about 7.50pm as they headed to work a night shift at a local care home. A motorist travelling in the opposite direction said the Prius driver seemed to increase speed about 15 metres away from the crossing and then swerved from the two pedestrians in front. The pregnant woman was hit and 'thrown into the air for quite some distance' before she tumbled and rolled into his car, said the witness. Prosecutors said the driving of Shahid before the collision also 'left a lot to be desired'. Video clips recovered from his mobile phone and that of his front seat passenger, younger brother Sam Shahid, 17, showed them laughing and singing to music as the car is driven erratically and at speed. Sam Shahid was also seen to put his feet and upper body out of the window while the driver removes both hands from the wheel at times and makes gun gestures. Minutes after the collision the Toyota was abandoned in a side street and covered with a sheet by the defendants, before others moved the vehicle on to the back of flatbed truck and dumped it in Farnworth, Greater Manchester. Ashir Shahid was arrested days later and made no comment when interviewed, but when his phone was examined it revealed that on the night of the collision he made an online search for 'charge for hit and run human'. A video clip on his Snapchat account also showed him singing along to the Shaggy song It Wasn't Me and laughing. Voice note recordings were also discovered of Sam Shahid rapping: 'Ran that bitch over, baby got packed. She still not woke up, she still asleep.' Ashir Shahid, of Windsor Road, Walton le Dale, Preston, pleaded guilty in June to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. On Friday, he was also banned from driving for 15 years and one month, and must pass an extended retest. Sam Shahid, also of Windsor Road, was detained for three years after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. Sentencing, Judge Ian Unsworth KC said Ashir Shahid's acceleration in the moments before the crash was 'akin to what you may see on a Formula 1 race track'. He said: 'Your driving was nothing less than appalling. You engaged in a prolonged and persistent course of dangerous driving. 'Your speed was significantly in excess of the speed limit and was highly inappropriate for the prevailing road conditions. 'Olive's life lasted five hours and 38 minutes. He did not live to see dawn. His mother never saw him alive. 'His life was snubbed out before it really began.' Mrs Joseph spent a fortnight in a coma before she learned of the death of her son, the court heard. She and her nurse husband, Nyjil Jonn, had planned a gender reveal party at a baby shower for family and friends on October 2. One of her last memories before the collision was buying a dress to wear for the occasion, she said in a victim personal statement read out to the court. Mrs Joseph said: 'Everything has been ruined by that one night and the callous and reckless actions of those two people in that car. My life will never by the same again. 'I will never get to meet my baby, be a mummy to him or watch him grow up. They have taken my first child away from me and I will never get him back.' Mr Joseph said it was 'incomprehensible' to see their son placed on the lap of his unconscious wife as she fought for her life. He said he was scared for the future of the couple, both originally from India, and the possible long-term impact on his wife. Mrs Joseph suffered life-changing injuries including a bleed to the brain, a cracked spinal cord and fractures to her pelvis, ribs and leg. She has had to learn to walk again but struggles to stand for long periods of time, the court heard. Jonathan Duffy, defending Ashir Shahid, who has no previous convictions, said: 'Of course he knew that he had struck a pedestrian but didn't know at the time how seriously injured Mrs Joseph was. 'He deeply regrets his behaviour immediately after the offence, All he can say is that he panicked and was in shock.' Shahid had expressed feelings of shame, guilt and remorse in a letter to the court, he said. Fellow defence barrister Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe, said Sam Shahid explained to her that rapping about something as serious as these events 'makes it easier for him to cope with, as odd as that sounds'. She said: 'While Sam clearly has difficulties of his own, he has ambitions. He says he wants to join the Army.' Sam Shahid had six prior convictions for 13 offences including burglary and vehicle theft, the court was told. Judge Unsworth told the defendants: 'You seemingly have no moral compass. Throughout these proceedings you have sat with your heads down as if in shame. You have no shame.' He noted how they both 'disappeared into the night like cowards' following the collision and then shortly after acted with 'breathtaking coolness' as they began a cover-up operation. He told them they had 'not shown a care in the world for anyone and anything around you' as they careered through residential streets at dangerously high speeds. Judge Unsworth said: 'Your arrogant, selfish and shameless actions put multiple people at risk including yourselves. 'Neither of you have a shred of remorse for your involvement that evening.' He told Sam Shahid: 'You sang utterly vile rap songs in which you glorified the events of that evening and speak in utterly despicable ways of Renju and her dead son Olive. It defies belief. 'You have an ingrained criminality and are someone who at the age of 17 seems to revel in and take pleasure from it.' Following sentence, the Josephs' lawyer, Cathy Leach – of JMW Solicitors, said: 'The enormity of the tragic effects of the accident and the injuries sustained, are something Renju and Nyjil will live with daily. 'Their lives will never be the same. They wish to retain their privacy but have specifically asked us, as their lawyers, to pass on their thanks be passed on to the many people who have been magnificent in their response to the tragedy. 'They specially want to mention the other road users and people who were witnesses to the terrible accident who took the trouble gave evidence to the police and the court.' Det Chief Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Constabulary's major investigation team, said: 'My thoughts first and foremost today are with Renju and family. They have been through the most appalling ordeal and my heart goes out to them. 'They have shown the most incredible dignity and courage since this tragic collision and throughout these proceedings. 'In contrast Ashir Shahid and his co-defendant have shown nothing but arrogance and a lack of remorse for what they have done.'
