“`html
To access this video, please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
An 18-year-old man was propelled into the air, ultimately landing within the backseat of a BMW convertible after being struck by a speeding drug dealer.
David Skinner survived but sustained numerous injuries when he was hit by Ahmed Lal, 24, in Wellington, Shropshire.
At the time, Lal, who was under the influence of cannabis, had been ‘showing off’ to his friends by racing his BMW around the town on June 18, 2023.
Police-released video evidence depicts the vehicle speeding along Watling Street – a zone limited to 30mph – mere moments before it collided with Mr. Skinner, who was crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing.
Experts estimated that Lal was traveling at a minimum of 67mph and could have been going as fast as 71.5mph.
The footage halts at the moment of impact and resumes after Mr. Skinner has landed in the backseat of the car.
A passenger is then seen leaping from the vehicle while it is still in motion and fleeing the vicinity.
Mr. Skinner was left with a fractured pelvis and hip, broken bones in his foot, and considerable bruising on his chest and left eye.
When authorities responded to the incident, Lal was subjected to a drug test, which returned a positive result for cannabis.
He was also operating a provisional license and failed to display any L plates.
Lal was apprehended at the scene and transported into custody.
After being released pending further inquiries, he was discovered to have provided false information and fled to Stoke-On-Trent to escape capture.
Eventually located by law enforcement, Lal faced charges for causing severe injury through dangerous driving, operating a vehicle without insurance, driving a vehicle outside the terms of his license, and driving under the influence of drugs.
He pleaded guilty to these offenses, alongside two counts of possession with intent to distribute Class A substances following his apprehension for selling heroin and crack cocaine.
Lal, a resident of Wellington, received a sentence of five years and eight months at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Tuesday.
While sentencing, Recorder Adrian Jack remarked: ‘You drove at a grossly excessive speed for a prolonged period.’
‘Your victim was hurled into the air and ended up in the back of your car.’
‘You perpetrated these offenses while on bail and subsequently obstructed justice.’
The court was informed that Mr. Skinner was en route to a shop at approximately 3:30 PM to ‘retrieve some peas for his dinner.’
Prosecutor William Dudley stated: ‘The defendant was racing throughout the town in the preceding moments. His velocity was excessively fast.’
In a victim impact statement, Mr. Skinner shared that he has been experiencing insomnia since the incident and ‘feels devoid of emotion.’
He also conveyed concerns regarding his ability to secure employment due to his injuries.
Philip Beardwell, representing Lal, informed the court that the ‘immature’ Lal had turned to the abuse of class A substances following the death of his sibling in 2020 and had incurred a debt with his supplier.
He elaborated, ‘He was warned that failure to repay the debt would compel him to engage in drug dealing.’
A representative from West Mercia Police’s Operational Policing Unit remarked: ‘Lal’s actions were not only reckless, resulting in severe injuries to another individual, but he also hindered our pursuit of justice after providing false information in a bid to evade the repercussions of his actions.’
‘It is our hope that the sentence imposed on Lal by the judge may provide some sense of closure to his victim, who has endured enough suffering.’
Contact our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more articles like this, visit our news page.
