A road rage driver who struck down a stranger in a Tesco car park has dodged jail - partly because she is a single mum. Aimee Palmer mowed down Paramjit Malhi in a 'burst of temper' after a short row with him as she left the supermarket in Hodge Hill.
The bus driver, who was launched into the air and broke his ankle upon landing, was left 'traumatised' by the incident and still suffers 'nightmares', Birmingham Live reports. Following a trial, Palmer, of Gilson Drive, Coleshill was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The 28-year-old was handed an 18-month prison sentence suspended for a year and banned from driving for three years. Appearing at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday (28th October), she was also ordered to pay £500 costs, undergo 12 days of rehabilitation activity and given a three-month curfew between 7pm and 7am.
The mum-of-two, who was previously convicted for drink-driving, was deemed unsuitable for unpaid work due to health reasons following an assessment. Judge Andrew Smith KC stated: "In your favour I am persuaded there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
"As significant is my being satisfied a sentence of immediate custody would result in a significant harmful impact on your young daughters. Appropriate punishment can be achieved by a suspended sentence."
At roughly 4pm on June 8 last year, Palmer was reversing out of her parking spot at Tesco and forced to hit the brakes after Mr Malhi walked behind her Ford Fiesta. She said: "Can't you see I'm f***ing reversing?".
Mr Malhi continued walking, but the defendant then drove out of the parking bay, revved her engine and ploughed into him. She kept driving after the collision, but circled back a few minutes later and said: "I'm sorry I didn't mean it."
She then remained the scene until emergency services arrived. She told police that Mr Malhi had caused the incident after he 'zig-zagged' in front of her car. The claim was rejected by Judge Smith, however he did accept that she did not deliberately hit him.
He said: "I find your offending involves significant culpability. Yours was an aggressive piece of driving in which you sought to frighten a vulnerable pedestrian. I acknowledge the dangerous driving occupied a comparatively short period of time. It caused significant physical and psychological harm to Mr Malhi."
Following the crash, the victim was unable to work for several months and still suffers pain and stiffness as a result of his injury. The court also heard thatMr Malhi's mental health had 'suffered severely'.
Timothy Sapwell, prosecuting, said: "It has left him traumatised. He can't sleep. He has nightmares about his leg. He was scared when he went out. The sound of cars going quickly and revving caused him to be anxious.
"He points out he could have been killed in the incident. He also points out he could have fallen badly and injured himself more severely."
Sharon Bailey, defending, said Palmer had expressed regret over her actions and did not leave her house that day with the intent of causing someone harm. She said: "She drove at Mr Malhi with the intention to frighten or scare him. She didn't intend to hit him. It was a short term burst of temper."
The barrister added that her client was 'genuinely frightened and upset by coming to court' and not a 'hardened criminal'. Ms Bailey said: "She is a young woman with two young children. Your Honour may think in all the circumstances it would be disproportionate to send her to prison."
During his sentencing, Judge Smith said: "Your deliberate dangerous driving caused a significant risk of danger. I accept you are a low risk of further offending. I also recognise you are a parent of two very young children.
"I accept your description to probation of terror of being separated from your children. I have read references which demonstrate you to be a caring parent and for who this conviction is out of character. I have concluded your offending is so serious the custodial threshold is passed."
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