Kent Police report that a motorist who seriously injured a pedestrian after deliberately driving a car at him in Kings Hill has been jailed.
Thomas Arnold mounted a pavement and forced the victim onto the vehicle’s bonnet, before colliding with a lamppost.
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Thomas Arnold
Arnold and the victim were known to each other and during the evening of 25 June 2023 had been involved in a verbal altercation, linked to issues which included previous disagreements over parking.
At around 7.40pm, the argument escalated and led to Arnold driving his Ford Fiesta onto a grass verge in Park Drive, where it struck the victim and forced him onto the bonnet. He then steered it towards a lamppost, trapping the victim between the vehicle and the streetlight.
Arnold then drove from the scene, leaving the victim with multiple injuries including two broken legs.
An investigation quickly located the Fiesta abandoned nearby and enquiries established the driver had fled to the Isle of Sheppey.
On 27 June, Arnold handed himself in at Sheerness Police Station and claimed during an interview he had been scared of the victim and hadn’t meant to harm him. He insisted his foot had slipped on the accelerator as he tried to drive around him.
Arnold, 25, from East Malling was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and later pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court. He was sentenced on Tuesday 1 October 2024 to five years’ imprisonment. He was also made subject of a restraining order.
Detective Constable Hannah Barker said:
‘Arnold showed no hesitation in using his car as a weapon and his actions left his victim suffering a number of appalling injuries.
‘It is only by chance that the victim survived this mindless assault, although there is little doubt this ordeal will have a profound and long-lasting effect. As well as the physical scars, the impact of this crime will likely have a significant psychological impact on the victim for the rest of their life.
‘I only hope this sentence will provide some closure and reassurance that at least justice has now been served.’