Driver ploughed into innocent man leaving him with traumatic brain injury hours after prison release

Yahoo

06-08-2025

A danger driver left a man in with a traumatic brain injury just hours after being released from prison.
Hugh Raymond Holmes was arrested by police after crashing his car into an innocent bystander. Holmes had been out of prison for a driving offence for just a number of hours before the horror smash on December 19, last year.
The collision happened following a confrontation, which occurred in Faraday Street, Ferryhill, involving several individuals, where Holmes was knocked to the ground by a van driver. Holmes initially left the scene but returned shortly after, attempting to strike the driver with his vehicle.
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The intended target managed to evade the car, which then collided with an innocent local who had emerged to calm the situation. The harrowing incident was caught on CCTV and later shared by Durham Constabulary.
The victim sustained severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, multiple facial fractures, and a broken leg that needed surgical screws. After spending months in hospital, the victim continues to receive ongoing treatment.
Holmes, injured and bloodied himself, was swiftly detained by the authorities, with bodycam footage capturing his arrest. In the video, Holmes is heard expressing a desire to return to incarceration, stating: "I wish I was back in jail", reports Chronicle Live.
When questioned about his release, he informed the officer: "Only got out this morning...about half nine."
Holmes faced charges of assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent, inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent, disqualified driving, driving with no insurance and refusing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. Holmes, of Spennymoor, admitted guilt to all charges bar causing grievous bodily harm and after a two-day hearing at Teesside Crown Court last week, the jury convicted him in merely 20 minutes.
He received an 18-year prison sentence and a 15-year driving ban. DC Lauren Howe, who spearheaded the investigation, said: "Holmes is a despicable criminal who clearly hadn't learnt any lessons from his previous crime which he had just been released from prison for. He left the victim with critical injuries just before Christmas and they continue to have a huge impact on him and his family.
"However, thanks to the bravery of the victim and the whole community pulling together, we were able to gather overwhelming evidence to charge Holmes and put him back before the court. We hope putting Holmes back behind bars for a significant amount of time will bring some comfort to the victim who, in his own words, continues to stand tall."