A YOUNG driver has admitted mowing down pedestrians during a hit-and-run confrontation in a Newton Abbot street.
Niall Grant, aged 21, had only held a licence for six months when he caused serious injury to one man and minor knocks to two others.
He had been drinking before he was caught on CCTV as he drove at a group of youths in The Avenue on the night of August 24, 2014.
Grant, of Oakland Road, Newton Abbot, admitted dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm to Wajeeh Izharuddin.
He changed his pleas on the first day of his trial at Exeter Crown Court when a more serious charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent was shelved.
Other charges of failing to stop and of assaulting pedestrians Rhys Goldring and William Milton will also not be proceeded with.
Recorder Mr Andrew Maitland, QC, warned Grant he is likely to face an immediate jail sentence when he returns to court on October 3.
He ordered a probation pre-sentence report which will also look at alternative sentences and imposed an interim driving ban.
The recorder told Grant: ’This is a case in which I can make no promises. There may be sufficient mitigating circumstances to allow a sentence to be suspended but the custody threshhold would appear to be crossed.
’You have pleaded guilty to an incident of appalling driving in the course of which one person received serious injuries and another would appear to have gone into your windscreen.
’The case is aggravated by the fact you did not stop and that you were under the influence of alcohol. There is no direct evidence of the exact level but you had drunk in various establishments that night.
’The report will look at other disposals but it may be that when all matters are before the sentencing judge, this case will require immediate custody. You must prepare yourself for that.’
Mr Joss Ticehurst, prosecuting, said Grant’s pleas are acceptable and he hopes to have impact statements from Mr Izharuddin and the other victims before the next hearing.
He said: ’This case relates to him driving at a group of males. It is clear his intention was to scare them but he miscalculated and struck Mr Izharuddin.
’The dangerous driving count reflects his decision to get into his car drunk and driving without lights and up the road, clipping another man and driving with a smashed windscreen, which is partly caught on CCTV.
’The officer in the case is to take a victim personal statement from Mr Izharuddin. The other two were not injured in may material way. Their injuries were extremely minor.’
Mr Martin Salloway, defending, said Grant has no previous convictions and had only been driving for six months. He said he has a job and the support of his family.