Hit-and-Run Driver jailed after Leaving Victim in Coma

Mohammed Ali, aged 20, of Toothill, Swindon, was jailed for six years and four months for running over a man. The hit-and-run driver left the victim in a coma.

Swindon Crown Court heard he struck Morgan Sheppard outside The Dolphin pub in Rodbourne Road.

Nicholas Cotter, prosecuting, said Ali was driving a grey Nissan Juke in London Street, in the Railway Village, shortly after 3 pm on March 6, 2020.

His friend Sebastian Kowalski was with him in the car.

They saw Morgan walking with others in the area. The day before, there was a dispute between Ali and the victim, reportedly involving a drug deal.

Ali called Benjamin Danso-Obeng and went to pick him up.

Morgan walked under the railway line and towards the designer outlet. Ali drove down Rodbourne Road, onto Bristol Street and Emlyn Square before heading back towards Rodbourne.

Ali dropped Danso-Obeng on Rodbourne Road and drove towards Percy Street. As he drove back down Rodbourne Road, he saw Danso-Obeng involved in an argument with Morgan’s group.

The Nissan mounted the pavement and hit Morgan. It was estimated that Ali was travelling at 28mph.

Ali drove towards the designer outlet, parked up and fled. The next day, he took a coach to London before surrendering at Gablecross Police Station a week later.

Kowalski fled to Poland where he has remained.

In four police interviews, the hit-and-run driver made no comment to all questions.

Morgan was flown to Southmead Hospital in Bristol. He had suffered a severe head injury and was in a coma for a week.

He underwent several procedures, including a tracheotomy but has since made a full recovery.

No evidence against Danso-Obeng was offered and formal not guilty verdicts were recorded. He had been recalled on licence.

Ali later changed his plea to guilty.

Jack Talbot, defending, said Ali was remorseful and would like to write an apology letter to Morgan if he wished it.

Ali experienced flashbacks to the incident. A doctor suggested he was suffering from post-traumatic stress.

Mr Talbot said that in the seven months, he had been on remand at Bullingdon prison and had a job sorting parcels.

Judge Robert Pawson told the hit-and-run driver he needed to reflect on the effects his actions had on the victim.

He said: “If you had killed him, if he’d have died, you’d be going to prison for life.

“There’d be a minimum sentence that would be imposed. That would have been a minimum sentence of perhaps 20 years; a lifetime, the best 20 years of your life gone for taking another human life.

“Anyway, you didn’t kill him; a matter of luck, not judgement.”

Ali was jailed for six years and four months. Swindon Advertiser reported that in addition, he was banned from driving for two years which will come into effect upon his release.

After sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker of Wiltshire Police said:

“Ali’s victim was fortunate not to die from his injuries.”

“This was a reckless and violent act which put the lives of innocent members of the public at risk – it was fortunate that no other person was seriously injured as a result of Ali’s actions.

“Our officers worked tirelessly on this case and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those at the scene who aided the victim before medical assistance arrived, and subsequently the witnesses who came forward and gave their accounts of what happened to help get this guilty plea.”