A heartbroken neighbour said she wished she could have saved a Chilwell pensioner who died after being pushed to the floor by a drunk motorist. Neil Robinson, 75, was crossing Ranson Road after going out for a coffee on December 16 last year when he encountered James Gill.
Gill, who was on bail for violence in Sheffield, seemed to "purposefully" swerve his car in the direction of Mr Robinson, who was crossing from behind a bus. After an exchange of words, a bus driver saw Gill push over Mr Robinson, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
He died from head injuries six days later - on his grandson's ninth birthday. Louise Welmsley, whose house has a view of the road on which it took place, said she wished she could have helped Mr Robinson.
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"I went to go and park at the hospital earlier than usual as the parking situation was quite bad," recalled the 53-year-old community carer. "If I'd have been home I might have been able to do something to help."
"It's made me want to get CCTV installed, which could have helped in a situation like that. We think it's a safe area and we don't think these things can happen. It's devastating to hear and my thoughts go out to his family, it's usually a really lovely area."
Gill, 39, of Station Road, Arksey, Doncaster, was sentenced to a total of seven years over the offence, with nine months being added for offences in Sheffield. Some in Chilwell believed it was not enough.
Sean, who wished to withhold his surname, said it was not long enough. "Really it should be more as a man has lost his life. It's sad but there's nothing we can do about it." Simon Bond, who lives nearby, added: "It's the first I've heard about it but it's surprising that it's happened here.
"But I suppose it could happen anywhere. It's very sad and unfortunate."
Following Gill's sentencing, Detective Inspector Steve Wragg, of Nottinghamshire Police, said it was a desperately sad case. “Gill’s attack on Mr Robinson was cowardly and completely unprovoked. It cost an innocent man his life and left a family completely devastated," he said.
"Of course, no sentence imposed today could put things right and my thoughts remain with Mr Robinson's family at what continues to be an extremely painful time for them."
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