Driver urinated on van as girl he hit lay in road

John Thompson crashed into a 14-year-old girl on Meadow Lane in Westbury

A driver who crashed into a teenage girl before urinating on his van as she lay in the road has been disqualified from driving for 17 months.

John Thompson, 45, hit the 14-year-old girl in Meadow Lane, Westbury on 13 March. The girl's injuries were not life-changing.

Thompson, of Norden in Bradford-on-Avon, blew over the limit at the scene but insisted he was not the driver until he was later presented with CCTV footage showing him getting out of the driver's seat.

He pleaded guilty to failing to provide a breath specimen, careless driving and driving without an MOT in June and was sentenced at Salisbury Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that after police arrived at the scene, another man claimed to have been driving.

Thompson then said he was desperate to go to the toilet and, despite the injured teen being just metres away, urinated against the passenger side of his van.

Both men were arrested and the court was told Thompson twice failed to provide a breath specimen for analysis while in police custody.

No further action was taken against the second man.

'Callous'

Sgt Neil Bott, from Wiltshire Police, described the incident as incredibly traumatic for the victim and her mother, who was 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," he added.

"Thompson then tried to protest his innocence in custody before being shown clear footage that he had been driving the van."

During his sentencing hearing, Thompson was ordered to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.

He must also complete a 60-day alcohol abstinence requirement and up to eight days of rehabilitation.

Thompson was told his 17-month driving disqualification would be reduced by 17 weeks if he completed a driving course.