Driver spared jail despite ramming into pedestrian in furious Co-op car park stand-off

A man has avoided jail after driving into a pedestrian twice in a row over a parking space.

Simon Wood was trying to park in a space outside a Co-op in Hingham, Norfolk, when the incident occurred on April 10, 2022.

However, Norwich Crown Court was told how some of the parking spots outside the shop are reserved for people living nearby, and are guarded with "vigilance" by locals.

Prosecutor Jude Durr said that as Wood attempted to drive into one of the spaces near the shop, he entered into a "frank exchange of words" with another man.

He told the court the victim repeatedly gesticulated towards Wood as the "stand-off" between the pair escalated.

Though at first he did not react, Wood then climbed into his Mercedes and drove at the victim, "making contact" with him, before "reversing and doing precisely the same thing for a second time".

The victim, who was in his mid-40s, sustained injuries to his foot and torso.

Wood appeared in court on Tuesday having previously admitted to dangerous driving.

Judge Anthony Bate said the incident did not require a sentence of immediate imprisonment, despite it being a case of dangerous driving.

He sentenced Wood to a 15-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, and disqualified him from driving for a year.

Wajahat Sherwani, mitigating, said Wood has type 1 diabetes and had not had anything to eat or drink for four hours prior to the incident which had "significant impact on his judgement".

He added that Wood had suffered physical abuse as a child and therefore had a strong "fight or flight mode" which kicked in.

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Mr Sherwani claimed Wood fully accepted his actions and felt strong remorse.

Wood was also ordered to complete 10 days' Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and do 180 hours of unpaid work.

Dangerous driving brings an obligatory disqualification from driving of at least one year and can see the offender put behind bars for a maximum of two years.

In order to determine the sentence, judges must consider the culpability and harm caused to both people and objects.