A motorist has been jailed for attempted murders after he deliberately drove a car at two people in Maidstone.
Anthony Deeprose was sentenced to 27 years’ imprisonment after his actions left one of his victims suffering serious head injuries.
During the evening of 12 November 2022, a group of friends went to a charity fancy dress event at a town centre public house. At around 11.45pm, Deeprose arrived at the same venue with another group of friends. During the evening there was some interaction between the two groups who were previously unacquainted.
Deeprose mentioned to one of the men from the other party that he was going through a hard time and appeared to take it badly when the latter tried to commiserate. A short while later, both men were outside the premises in Station Road, when Deeprose suddenly punched him in the head. The victim’s friends came out of the pub to remonstrate with Deeprose, who had got into a silver Vauxhall Corsa parked outside.
He then drove directly at this group, who were by now in the road, and collided with a man in his 20s, before continuing towards the railway station with the headlights off.
As the injured man was lying in the road, his friends along with staff from the pub tried to assist, but Deeprose returned in the vehicle, again with the lights off. This time the wheel of the Corsa went over the first victim’s head and the car also collided with a second man in his 20s.
Deeprose, of no fixed address, drove from the scene with some of his associates. The first person he had struck with the car was taken to a London hospital with a serious head injury, with the second suffering leg injuries.
Officers arrested Deeprose at Dargate service station near Faversham around two hours later. He was charged and pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to two counts of attempted murder. He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, disqualified driving and assault by beating. Following a trial, he was convicted of the two counts of attempted murder.
On Friday 6 October, Deeprose, aged 30, was sentenced to 27 years’ imprisonment, with an additional three years on licence when he is released. Deeprose will have to serve two thirds of the sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Detective Constable Mark Butler, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: ‘Deeprose knew he was likely to cause serious harm to those he drove towards and it is only by chance that we were not dealing with fatalities. Nonetheless, one of the victims suffered life-changing injuries and many of those involved would have been traumatised by this appalling incident.
‘I would like to commend the victims and witnesses who have supported our investigation throughout and ensured this dangerous individual is now serving a lengthy prison sentence. The staff at the public house and the victims’ friends should also be congratulated for the first aid they gave to the two injured men immediately after the incident, and the subsequent assistance they provided to the emergency services.’