Bristol driver left biker for dead in hedge
An unqualified driver who slammed a car into a motorcyclist and left him for dead before burning the vehicle has been jailed.
Ian Prater lost control of the BMW after overtaking on an accident black-spot bend on the A37 in August last year, a court heard.
After spinning and missing two cars, he slammed backwards into biker Simon Oborne, aged 41, sending him flying 15ft through the air before he landed on a hedge.
Mr Oborne's leg was shattered and a rib broken and he has been unable to work in almost 10 months since the accident.
Prater fled the scene before torching the BMW, which was registered to his brother-in-law, in a field.
The 44-year-old, of Bishport Avenue, Hartcliffe, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and doing an act tending to pervert the course of public justice.
He also admitted failing to report and stop at an accident, driving other than in accordance with a driving licence and driving without insurance. He was jailed for a year at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.
James Ward, prosecuting, said at 7.15am on August 8 last year Mr Oborne, an experienced motorcyclist, was riding to work on his Honda XL 650 at 45mph on the A37 between Farrington Gurney and Clutton.
Mr Ward said a driver coming the other way, Rebecca Fowler, noticed a BMW overtaking a Transit van behind her before it overtook her.
"He appeared to be going too fast," Mr Ward said. "The BMW spun 360 degrees and on its second spin it hit Mr Oborne on his bike at 50 to 60mph.
Prater then drove off and at 7.46am called his brother-in-law, Anthony Gould, to say the BMW had been stolen.
It was at 9.30am when police went to a field away from the crash site and found the burnt out BMW. At 11.45am police visited Prater's home and he said it was him they were looking for.
Mr Ward said Prater admitted he had never had a driving lesson, let alone passed a driving test, and he said he hadn't seen the motorcyclist.
Ramin Pakrooh, defending, said he was surprised to discover his client was a man of good character, with no criminal record.
Mr Pakrooh said: "He says he knew there had been an impact and he says he thought it was a car. He drove off in panic. Very soon after the vehicle was burnt out, the number plate was collected and police went to his address.
"When they came he said 'I'm the man you're looking for'."
The court heard Prater had suffered from a decade of depression and it was felt prison could result in further deterioration of his mental health and make him the target of bullying.
Imposing sentence Judge Simon Darwall-Smith told Prater: "You drove in a dangerous manner, too fast in the wet, spinning your car and injuring the victim.
"You failed to stop and you attempted to destroy the evidence by burning your car and asking your brother-in-law to report it stolen."
After the hearing father-of-three Mr Oborne, a project engineer from Midsomer Norton, said he has had to walk with a stick and wear a frame bracing his right leg while his shattered bones mend.
He said not being able to work had put a strain on family finances and his life had been on hold for 10 months, with him not able to even kick a ball with his children, enjoy keeping fit or have a social life.
Mr Oborne said: "You can't tell me he didn't know he hit me – I was wearing luminous gear.
"He didn't know whether I was dead or alive and I don't feel any sympathy for him at all. I think he got off light – I will have easily another year's disruption in my life while he will get six months. I would have liked him to get a couple of years."
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by simon, m-s-n
Friday, May 29 2009, 3:41PM
“I couldn't read everyones comments without commenting myself. I am the biker and victim in the article. Having attended court for the case and listened to the defence barristers summing up it was of no surprise to hear some of the lame excuses he gave on behalf of Mr Prater for the circumstances of the 'Hit and Run' and his actions. I have, as commented in article no sympathy for Mr Prater circumstances, indeed he will be able to walk out of prison in 6 months time back into a relatively normal life style whereas in the 10 months since the 'Hit and Run' my life has been turned upside down and in 6 months time I will be looking forward to the prospect of walking unaided! and completing other everyday tasks also unaided. The article will soon be last weeks news and i will be just another biker accident statistic so I would like to thank everyone for their comments and thank everyone who stopped that morning, general public, witnesses and the emergency services, and lastly family and friends for their continuing support.”
by Ian, Redland
Friday, May 29 2009, 1:26PM
“6 month ! Darwall-Smith passes down yet another joke sentance. This idiot really is the criminals friend.”
by sarah, Bristol
Friday, May 29 2009, 8:21AM
“Liz, perhaps you should take a moment and re-think what you wrote! You are claiming those posting here have nothing better to do with their time, have sad lives - erm,,...didn't you comment too??? :-)”
by Martin, Clifton
Friday, May 29 2009, 12:48AM
“Liz, I may now be sat at my computer, but every day I have to use the roads with people like prater who are a danger to everyone else. Why should people like him be allowed to put my loved ones and my own life at stake for selfish reasons.”
by Martin, Clifton
Friday, May 29 2009, 12:44AM
“Prater drove his car without a licence or insurance on a public road. This was a concious decision on his part, and for that alone he should go to prison.
He then left the scene of an accident, for which he should also serve. time.
As for the road being WET, he should have slowed down to take account for it, if he had had proper lessons he may have realised this.
People who cause collisions like this whilst not being qualified to drive really don't deserve to be around the general public, and should be locked up for a lot longer than one year.”
by Mungo, South Bristol, UK
Thursday, May 28 2009, 10:58PM
“Please, please, please... Evening Post hurry up and fit a spell-checker to this comments page!!!”
by chris, bristol
Thursday, May 28 2009, 10:10PM
“Maria, i understand a daughter supporting her father no matter what, but if you dad were injured by someone driving with no license, and no insurance, who burned the car to cover his tracks so he couldnt be connected to the incident, what would you like the prison term and or fine to be? would you think a year inside long enough? would you think a huge fine to cover the loss of wages enough?, your father is the reason we all pay high insurance premiums, we are all responsible for our actions, why shouldnt your dad be responsible for his? what he did was illegal and morally wrong, who's fault is it that he will miss the birth of his first grandchild because he is in prison? he is no one else, lets hope he will learn from this but we wil never know, if your dad has lost his job maybe he will learn from it, if he hasnt got a job then his circumstances wont be any different when he comes out of prison it will be up to him to sort his s**t out with his families help”
by george, bristol
Thursday, May 28 2009, 6:48PM
“this awful crime should of never happened. why did the police allow this stupid man to drove with no licence and then find it funny to blame somone else for the accident. this man should not be allowed to drive ever again. i feel sorry the victim who now has to live wid this all his life and his family who has suffered badly from this. the criminal should of got a longer prison sentence.”
by Lizzie, Bristol
Thursday, May 28 2009, 6:28PM
“Maria, if Mr Prater were my father, I would thoroughly ashamed of him. What he did was disgusting and unforgivable. For all he knew the rider of the motorbike could have been dead and your father's only concern was to cover his own tracks. Your father sounds like a real piece of work. I hope you¿re very proud.”
by rob, bristol
Thursday, May 28 2009, 6:02PM
“Rob, explain what you do not agree with, or do you think its ok to drive dangerously, uninsured and perverting the course of justice?”