Drink driver fled scene in Bolton after mowing woman down

Martin Fletcher, aged 44, hit his victim on July 20 this year on Ivy Road, Smithills. 

Fletcher, of Westbourne Avenue, Great Lever, had been drinking before he got behind the wheel of his Vauxhall Zafira. 

His victim had just pulled up outside her house and was folding her passenger wing mirror in when his Zafira swerved towards her and knocked her unconscious. 

He was found to be almost three times over the drink-drive limit when arrested by police. 

Fletcher was sentenced for his offences at Bolton Crown Court on October 28. 

Prosecuting, James Preece said: "At 8pm on July 20, the victim was on Ivy Road in Bolton, having returned from shopping and parked her car. 

"She went around to the passenger door to fold the wing mirror in. The defendant, driving his Vauxhall Zafira, swerved left towards her. 

"She braced herself and the vehicle did hit her."

Martin Fletcher (Image: GMP) Footage of the crash was then played in court.

He added: "The defendant fled the scene prior to the arrival of emergency services, with the complainant having been knocked to the floor. 

"She remembers waking on the floor of the road and her daughter was with her. The bone of her arm was sticking through her skin. 

"Members of the public provided first aid and contacted emergency services, who attended." 

Police then identified the car from CCTV, finding it outside the Cotton Tree Pub. Fletcher was inside. 

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Police on scene (Image: Phil Taylor) Mr Preece said: "Officers told him a woman had been injured with his vehicle, and whilst his initial reaction was to offer police officers to handcuff him, he repeatedly denied being the driver of his own vehicle. 

"He said he had not driven for three days." 

Fletcher was arrested and admitted in police interview to causing the crash and for failing to stop or report the incident. 

In her statement, the victim told the court how she sustained an open fracture on her arm, a pelvic fracture and a cut to her upper lip in the crash. She spent three weeks in hospital following it and had to have three operations. 

She told of being "unable to look after" herself following the crash and said doctors were unsure how it would affect her long term. 

She added: "Following the collision I have been anxious, I have been nervous to cross the road in case anyone were to hit me." 

Fletcher pleaded guilty to the charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident and for drink driving. 

Defending, Anna Bond highlighted his troubled upbringing, mental health issues and his numerous children who depend on him. 

Police on scene on Ivy Road (Image: Phil Taylor) She admitted that though it is a "very serious case" and "the footage is appalling", that Fletcher was struggling at the time. 

She said: "Probation noted that the remorse he expressed is genuine. The defendant has a multitude of conditions, including sleep apnoea." 

Ms Bond highlighted that he had been on a combination of pills for his conditions which caused him memory loss - he is now on medication which doesn't cause such issues. 

She also spoke about the significant impact it would have on his children.

Concluding, Judge Neil Usher said: "On July 20 this year you were drinking in your local pub. You had so much to drink that later that evening, on your blood alcohol test, you were almost three times over the limit. 

"You decided to get behind the wheel of your car and drive." 

He added: "Unlike the vehicle in front of you, who had no issue driving past your victim, you drove into her, leaving her unconscious in the road. 

"If that wasn't bad enough, you failed to stop at the scene."

Judge Usher said that, although Fletcher's personal mitigation was strong, justice could only be served through a custodial sentence. 

He sentenced him to 28 months imprisonment, as well as a seven year ban from driving.