A drugged up and drunk driver pushed a pensioner to the ground in Chilwell, fatally injuring him as his head hit the tarmac, after the innocent victim had gone out for a coffee. James Gill, who was on bail for violence in Sheffield, encountered 75-year-old Neil Robinson, a complete stranger, as he crossed Ranson Road, Chilwell, at midday on Thursday, December 16, 2021.
Gill was a motorist driving his car as if "purposefully" swerving in the direction of Mr Robinson, who had been walking around the back of a parked double-decker bus. "He only just managed to jump back and avoid being hit by the defendant's car," explained Sarah Knight, prosecuting, on Friday.
Mr Robinson was crossing from behind a bus, Nottingham Crown Court heard, when Robinson called him **** and, "what are you doing walking on the road side of the road?" after getting out of his car. The bus driver saw frail and sober Mr Robinson falling backwards and formed the firm impression the pensioner had been pushed by the defendant.
Mr Robinson had no time to break his fall and "keeled over onto his back, with his head hitting the tarmac," said Miss Knight. Gill, 39, of Station Road, Arksey, Doncaster, stood over him then walked towards the driver's coach and tapped the driver's window and asked if he had seen anything before returning to Mr Robinson to try and get him back to his feet.
READ MORE: Man is sentenced over killing of pensioner in Nottinghamshire
"The force and suddenness of the push knocked him straight down to the ground, the back of his head striking the tarmac as he landed," said Miss Knight, before Gill was jailed for nine years for Mr Robinson's manslaughter. "As observed already, he had no chance to break his own fall. And it is quite clear that Mr Robinson did not trip. He was the unwitting victim of an unprovoked road rage attack by the defendant".
Gill left after the attack on Mr Robinson. He drove off in his car, whilst under the influence of drink and drugs. Gill committed further offences including shoplifting, assault, causing bodily harm, on a motorist in another road rage incident at a traffic light junction.
CCTV at Lidl on Ransom Road captured Gill shoplifting a bottle of Vodka. He returned to an electrician's course he was on but was required to leave at 2pm, the court heard. A mother and daughter then encountered him in his car in Stapleford Lane, Toton, where Gill threw a glass bottle out of the car window. The bottle hit a wall and smashed.
The driver drew up alongside Gill, wound her window down, and asked Gill if he was going to pick up his litter and told him not to throw away rubbish.
Gill told them: "I know littering is wrong but so is arson and I'm more than happy to set fire to your car". He blocked her in car, got out and stood in front of it, and started to peel an orange, making it clear he was going to be as awkward as possible.
This incident was witnesses by another driver who told Gill he should let other people through and that it was his own fault for throwing rubbish out of his car. Gill punched him in the face three times and drove off.
The sentence for manslaughter was nine years, of which he will serve two-thirds. A consecutive sentence was handed down for the assault, causing bodily harm, of 12 months.
Then nine months was imposed on two assaulting emergency worker charges, relating to the Sheffield matters, consecutive to the overall sentence. Concurrent sentences were imposed on the remaining charges. The headline sentence is ten years and nine months.
Gill were disqualified from driving for five years which will start when he is released.
Read next:
Jeremy Vine suffered 'Olympic level stalking' by presenter, court hears
Alex Belfield claimed radio station had 'refused' to mention Manchester terrorist attack
The heartbreaking family struggles faced by Nottinghamshire PCC Caroline Henry who 'messed up'
Caroline Henry: Judge tells speeding Nottinghamshire crime commissioner why limits are important
