Tommie Jury suffered ‘life changing injuries’ after being run over during affray in Newbury

A man sustained devastating injuries after he was run over by a car during an affray.

But the culprit avoided an immediate prison sentence after the judge criticised the fact it took five years to conclude the case.

Victim Tommie Jury sustained a fractured spine, collapsed lungs and multiple rib fractures after being run over when an alcohol-fuelled gathering in Newbury turned ugly.

In the dock at Reading Crown Court on Friday, March 14, charged with various offences, were Jury, aged 34, of Fleetwood Close, Newbury; Robert Curtis, aged 35, of Denman Drive, Newbury; Matthew Fisher, aged 31, formerly of of Wormersley Road, Greenham, and now of Conway Road, Calcot; and a father and son both named David Long, of Rangewood Avenue, Reading.

Alec Williams, prosecuting, said there had been a gathering in Denman Drive, Newbury, one evening, during which Long junior was struck, resulting in a bloody nose.

He added: “He leaves the party with revenge on his mind.”

Long junior later returned and caused significant damage to Jury’s car in Waller Drive, Newbury, the court heard.

Jury and Fisher arrived, and then Long senior in a vehicle, said Mr Williams.

He went on: “Curtis, Jury and Fisher attack [Long senior’s] car and, during that affray, Mr Jury was knocked over by the car; he suffered serious injuries while run over by it.

“This was a fast moving, large scale disturbance in the middle of the street in which weapons were used.”

Long senior had driven back and forth over Jury, the court heard.

Jury, Long junior, Curtis and Fisher all admitted affray; Long senior admitted careless driving causing serious injury and Long junior admitted causing criminal damage on July 25, 2020.

Counsel for Long senior said his client had been in a “state of panic” as others attacked his vehicle and had shown remorse for what happened.

John Simmons, for Long junior, said his client was “deeply ashamed” of his actions on the day.

Kevin McCrindle, for Fisher, said his client was a hard-working man whose partner was expecting a child.

Counsel for Jury said his client felt “deeply aggrieved over his life-changing injuries”.

Counsel for Curtis said his client was “fit and active” and able to undertake unpaid community work.

Judge Amjad Nawaz hit out at prosecutors, stating: “Through no fault [of the defendants], the prosecution, in the lax way they’ve approached this, took three years to get round to charging the defendants.”

He deplored the fact that no up-to-date medical evidence about Jury’s ongoing suffering had been provided by the prosecution despite almost five years having elapsed since the incident.

Judge Nawaz added: “And here we are today; in the five-year meantime none of the defendants have committed another offence while waiting for these matters to be disposed of.

“Their families have been left hanging on this particular string.”

Given the delay, said Judge Nawaz, he would not be sending Long senior to prison.

Instead he sentenced him to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and ordered him to complete 100 hours unpaid community work.

That prompted some people in the public gallery to protest in apparent disgust.

They were told to leave the court by Judge Nawaz.

Long senior was also ordered to pay £400 costs and was banned from driving for two years.

All four other defendants were made subject to a 12-month community order, required to complete 140 hours of unpaid community work and to pay £400 costs each.

In addition, Long junior was ordered to pay Jury £1,000 compensation towards the damage of his vehicle.