A drink driver urinated in view of a girl he’d hit just moments earlier – with police labelling him “incredibly callous”.
45-year-old John Thompson struck the 14-year-old victim while driving a Ford Transit Custom in Meadow Lane, Westbury, on 13 March this year.
Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance were called to the incident, treating the child for injuries. She was taken to Royal United Hospital in Bath for further care.
While the girl was being treated in the road, Thompson, of Norden, Bradford on Avon, urinated against the side of his vehicle – just metres from the victim.
When officers arrived at the scene, another man claimed to have been driving. Both Thompson and the other man were arrested, with Thompson found to be over the drink-drive limit.
He continued to deny that he was driving the van, until he was shown CCTV footage of the crash – which clearly showed him exiting the driver’s seat.
In custody, he did not provide a sample of breath and was subsequently charged with failing to provide, careless driving and driving without an MOT.
The other man was released with no further action.
At Salisbury Magistrates’ Court on 12 August, the defendant was banned from driving for 17 months, which may be reduced by 17 weeks if he completes a government-approved driving course.
He was also ordered to complete a 60-day alcohol abstinence programme, with monitoring in place, and up to eight days of rehabilitation activity.
Roads policing Sergeant Neil Bott said: “This incident was incredibly traumatic for the victim and her mother who was also at the scene.
“Any collision with a vehicle can be traumatic, but to then have the driver be so incredibly callous and disrespectful by urinating in front of the victim while she was lying injured is hard to believe.
“Thompson then tried to protest his innocence in custody before being shown clear footage that he had been driving the van.
“I am pleased he has now been sentenced and I hope he takes the time to reflect on his actions.”
