Teen hit man, then drove off as 'he wasn't exactly dead or anything'
A TEENAGER who hit a pedestrian while illegally driving his girlfriend's car told police he drove off from the scene because the victim wasn't dead.
Unlicensed and uninsured James Churchill, 18, was interviewed the day after the accident on Lower Castle Street but only claimed "50 per cent" of the responsibility, criticising the victim for his lack of awareness.
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Among the teenager's excuses for failing to stop was that he was frightened the suited recruitment consultant he struck may have had a knife.
Churchill, of Adams Land, Coalpit Heath, pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates' Court yesterday to five charges while Gemma Moore, now his ex-girlfriend, pleaded guilty to permitting him to drive.
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The court heard that Churchill had taken over the driving on their trip into Bristol from Yate because Moore had such a "terrible sense of direction".
Appearing in court separately from Churchill, Moore, also 18, from Somerset Avenue in Yate, said her "pushy and bossy" boyfriend had taken control of her vehicle on October 19, before hitting the pedestrian.
Prosecuting, May Li said Moore told officers: "He hit a man and I told him to stop. I was screaming at him to stop."
At a different hearing, Ms Li added that Churchill struck Daniel Lewis as he turned into Lower Castle Street.
She said: "Mr Lewis was half way across the road when he was struck. The defendant then continued to drive over his foot. He didn't stop."
Witnesses at the scene recorded the black Citreon C1's registration number but Churchill handed himself in to Trinity Road police station the following morning.
In interview, he gave police a variety of excuses: "I was going along when some big bloke ran out and jumped on the bonnet.
"I just drove off, he could have had a knife or something. He seemed all right to me. He wasn't exactly dead or anything."
He added: "I thought it was sensible for me to drive as she has a terrible sense of direction."
Representing himself in court, Churchill said his words were "twisted" in the interview.
Mr Lewis, a recruitment consultant, was left with bruising and swelling to his feet as well as damaged clothing and a broken phone.
In a statement from Mr Lewis read out to magistrates, he said he was more angry that the driver had fled the scene than at being hit.
Presiding magistrate Barbara Pinkerton banned Churchill, who has a provisional license, from driving for nine months and ordered him to do 60 hours of unpaid work in the community.
He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and £300 in compensation of the total of £749 claimed by Mr Lewis for his suit, shoes and phone.
Moore was also banned from driving for one month and fined £130 for permitting Churchill to drive.
9 Comments
by Brizz_Tony
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 5:08PM
“All's well that ends well, then, and the unfortunate victim is only £449.00 out of pocket, and will maybe get the rest at a few quid every now and then. Gemma Moore was obviously legal to drive the car, and will long regret letting a fool take the wheel, beginning the day she asks for an insurance quote when her ban ends. She has, however, made the very sensible decision to dump this feckless idiot before he kills them both with his driving prowess. James Churchill seems the sort who won't feel that a driving ban really applies to him, as it wasn't his fault in the first place, and anyway is such a good driver that he won't ever need to take a test. I hope I'm wrong, and that this brings him to his senses, determined to walk the straight and narrow hereafter. Moron is about right if he doesn't.”
by Obbop
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 3:08PM
“In the USA it is generally cheaper to kill then to injure whoever you purposefully or accidentally harm with a vehicle, a weapon or anything.
With the HUGE cost of medical care in the USA even a minor injury can result in a medical bill that can reach into the millions of USA dollars.
If you hit a pedestrian some folks back up and ensure the person struck is deceased.
"Murder by car" is in some ways an acceptable form of killing another with minimal criminal penalties.”
by bruce07
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 2:21PM
“How bad does an offence have to be before a prison sentence is dealt?
This is whyvigilanty groups are generated - I don't blame them”
by bristolreded
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 2:12PM
“"Among the teenager's excuses for failing to stop was that he was frightened the suited recruitment consultant he struck may have had a knife." This is bias and silly thing to say. The post should not of printed it.”
by bristol_guy
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:12PM
“I really enjoyed this excuse the most..
"Among the teenager's excuses for failing to stop was that he was frightened the suited recruitment consultant he struck may have had a knife."
That's my day made. Hope the guy he hit's o.k now.”
by whippetboy
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 10:32AM
“"I thought it was sensible for me to drive as she has a terrible sense of direction."
Despite the fact that you had no driving licence or insurance?
I don't really know what to say about this, I mean there is stupidity and ignorance but this looks like something deeper.
James Churchill MUST be mentally incapable of rational thought...but that is an insult to those you suffer from mental illness.
He is just a total F***witt.”
by Kwacker
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:33AM
“Much too lenient again, a slap on the wrist will never work with this sort of person.”
by Brandon_Hill
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:32AM
“Teen man?...
you mean "motorist"?”
by Bristolexpat
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 9:21AM
“Gemma Moore, now his ex-girlfriend.........
Might just be the best decision she makes.......
James Churchill, you are a moron....”