Danger driver chased stranger and ran him over

Christopher Steele admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving

A dangerous driver who chased a stranger and deliberately ran over him as he lay stricken in the street has been jailed for four years.

Christopher Steele, 36, flashed his lights and honked his horn as he followed a car in Stanley, County Durham, before attacking the driver in April 2023, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The victim, who suffered multiple injuries, said the attack had ruined his life and he still did not know why he had been targeted, although a judge said it was "classic road rage".

Steele, who had a history of motoring offences and was banned from driving at the time, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The victim was driving home at about 23:30 BST on 15 April 2023 when Steele pulled out from the side of the road and started aggressively following him, prosecutor Paul Rooney said.

Steele was flashing his lights and honking his horn before getting out of his car and punching the victim in the face after the man had pulled over on a street in Stanley, the court heard.

'Spat out by car'

The victim's two sons were nearby and got in their father's car, with the trio then following Steele to get his registration plate, the court heard.

They found Steele's car parked near South Moor Golf Club, but Steele spotted them and got out and punched their car so hard he smashed one of its windows, Mr Rooney said.

They drove away and Steele, of Clough Dene, Tantobie, again gave chase, tailgating, overtaking and pulling in front trying to make the victim's car stop, the court heard.

The victim said he believed his assailant was trying to run him off the road, the prosecutor said.

When the victim got back to his street in Stanley, he walked to Steele's car and opened the passenger door in an attempt to talk to his attacker, the court heard.

Steele drove quickly in reverse knocking the man to the ground and running over him, the court heard, before crashing into a parked van.

With the victim lying in the road about 10ft (3m) in front of him, Steele then revved his engine before driving straight into the man's prone body at "such speed [the man] was lifted off the ground and spat out the rear of the car", Mr Rooney said.

One of the victim's son was also injured as he jumped out of the way of Steele's car, the court heard.

'Certain dad was dead'

The victim spent more than a week in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary being treated for injuries including a collapsed lung, liver laceration, broken ribs, fractured nose, black eye and serious jaw issues which resulted in five teeth being lost, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the man said his life had been ruined with both physical and psychological injuries still having a profound affect.

"I keep thinking 'why has he done this to me,'," the man said, adding: "I've not been able to understand why this suspect chose me."

He said he was "close to death" and could not understand why a "complete stranger" had wanted to run him over and then leave him for dead in the street.

His sons said it had been "utterly horrifying" and they were certain their father had been killed, as he lay motionless on the ground.

They said their father was a "shell" of the man he had been and they too had unanswered questions about why Steele attacked him.

'Classic road rage'

Steele was arrested several hours later at his mother's home and was drunk and argumentative, with officers having to use a Taser and pepper spray to subdue him, the court heard.

The court heard Steele had 18 convictions for 36 offences on his criminal record, including multiple counts of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified between 2009 and 2023.

Mr Rooney said Steele had shown a "disturbing attitude to road safety" and "disregard" for court orders.

Judge Amanda Rippon said the reason for Steele's actions would probably never be known but the only "sensible conclusion" was Steele had been "vexed" in some way by the man, his car or his driving.

She said it was "classic road rage" and Steele was a "coward" and "absolute menace", with his actions the "most appalling" of their type that she had ever had the "displeasure" to deal with.

She also banned Steele from driving for 10 years and ordered him to take an extended test.