A man has been jailed after his driving left a young father with life changing injuries.
Adam Joshua Marsden 20, of HMP Forest Bank was sentenced today, at Manchester Crown Court, for three years and eight months for causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and aggravated vehicle taking after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.
He was also disqualified from driving for six years and 10 months.
Marsden was driving a stolen Nissan Primera dangerously on St Mary’s Road, Moston, stolen from the Cheetham Hill area seven days before had been described by witnesses as being driven at high speed and overtaking vehicles.
27-year-old Nicholas Horner was crossing the road on the way back from his grandfather’s house when he was struck by the Nissan.
Following the collision, Marsden failed to stop at the scene and abandoned the car nearby. He was recalled to prison two days later for unrelated offences.
Nicholas was taken to hospital where he remained unconscious for five days. He is now living with life changing injuries.
Officers from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit launched an investigation and, following extensive enquiries, identified Marsden was the driver of the Nissan at the time of the collision, travelling at 58mph in a 30mph limit prior to the collision.
Senior Investigating Officer, Sergeant Lee Westhead said, “If it were not for the actions of those that came to the aid of Nicholas and the urgent medical care he was given in hospital, this collision could easily have resulted in a fatality.
“Nicholas’ bravery and determination is astounding as he faces the long road to recovery.
“Marsden was a disqualified driver in a stolen car. His selfish arrogance and blatant disregard for the law nearly cost a man his life and his children their father.
“He made cowardly attempts to avoid capture for his actions and a severe underestimation of those that would seek to bring him to justice.
“Sadly, collisions such as this, caused by an impulsive young man who thinks of no one but himself are not rare.
“The roads of Greater Manchester are not a playground; a car in the wrong hands is a lethal weapon capable of inflicting unfathomable destruction upon victims and their families.
“Those who drive dangerously are taking the life of themselves and others in their hands and we will make sure they are held accountable for their actions.”
