Grandma jailed after hitting pedestrian and driving off while they clung to bonnet
A grandmother who hit a pedestrian and drove off with him clinging to her car bonnet has been jailed for 14 months.
Karen Hayter, 50, was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after carrying Mark McIntyre more than 500 yards on her vehicle in Dundee.
The mother of four drove straight at McIntyre when he attempted to prevent her from fleeing an accident scene where she had clipped another car.
The incident, which occurred on September 25, 2022, ended with Hayter abandoning her victim in the road before dumping her car at an Asda and taking a taxi home.
McIntyre had attempted to stop Hayter from leaving as he believed she would drive away without reporting the collision.
CCTV footage captured the incident, showing Hayter driving her Fiat Panda directly at McIntyre.
He found himself clinging to the bonnet after fearing he would be pulled under the vehicle as Hayter attempted to flee.
In desperation, McIntyre repeatedly punched the car’s windscreen, later explaining to the court he hoped “maybe she would come to her senses and stop”.
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The jury at Dundee Sheriff Court heard how Hayter continued to accelerate while McIntyre remained on her bonnet, before eventually abandoning him on the road.
In court, McIntyre described the terrifying moments on Hayter’s bonnet.
“I shouted, ‘Stop the f****** car’ but she just looked at me like I wasn’t even on that car. It was just an evil look she had,” he told the jury.
When asked by fiscal depute Lee Corr about his thoughts during the incident, McIntyre simply replied: “That I could die.”
Hayter claimed she was “terrified” of McIntyre and believed he might attack her.
The grandmother’s defence did not sway the court, which heard how she had driven at speed with McIntyre clinging precariously to her vehicle.
McIntyre suffered cuts to his scalp, abrasions on his torso, and a slipped disc as a result of the incident.
The jury found Hayter guilty of causing severe injury, permanent disfigurement and permanent impairment, as well as endangering his life.
She was also convicted of failing to stop and report an accident.
Sheriff Paul Brown described the offences as “extremely serious” before sentencing Hayter to 14 months in prison.
She was additionally banned from driving for five years and seven months.
McIntyre broke down in tears in the public gallery after the jury returned its verdicts.