"the Mercedes changed lanes at the island and went through a red light."
A speeding driver has been jailed for ploughing into a pedestrian in Birmingham city centre then left him for dead and covered up damage to his Mercedes with a prayer mat.
Manish Bhatoy struck the victim, who worked for Jaguar Land Rover, at around 3:18 am on November 13, 2022.
The man was crossing Islington Middleway and had not activated a nearby pedestrian crossing.
Prosecutor David Iles said: “The traffic was light. The road has three carriageways.
“It is unknown as to why he didn’t wait for or activate the green signal for him to cross safely.”
A taxi driver who witnessed the collision claimed the victim jumped over the railings without using the crossing.
Mr Iles continued: “The defendant was driving a Mercedes A180 in the direction of Five Ways Island.
“His insurance had expired and he was driving unlawfully. His sobriety was unknown because he didn’t stop at the scene as required.”
Bhatoy was in lane one and tried to emergency brake but hit the man who was “catapulted into the air and landed face down on the carriageway”.
Mr Iles said: “The defendant failed to stop as required by law. Thereafter the Mercedes changed lanes at the island and went through a red light.
“He was driving with greatly reduced visibility owing to the smashed windscreen which jeopardised other motorists and pedestrians for an unknown distance.”
At the time, Bhatoy was uninsured.
Instead of reporting the accident, the driver tried to belatedly insure his car and arrange for a windscreen repair.
Mr Iles explained: “The defendant had the smashed windscreen replaced and placed a fake number plate on the damaged car.
“The consequence of the wrong registration given to the Autoglass repairers, on their computer the registration plate gave the wrong sort of windscreen.
“When the repairer turned up the windscreen that was ordered didn’t fit.
“He (Bhatoy) also attempted to obscure further damage to the wing with a prayer mat.”
“The police attended the day after the incident and saw the defendant hoovering up smashed glass from inside.”
Bhatoy initially claimed his Mercedes was damaged by a group of thugs with baseball bats who attacked his friend while he was using it.
He later admitted speeding, dangerous driving, driving while uninsured, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and perverting the course of justice.
The victim suffered a catastrophic brain injury and has been in hospital or care since the incident.
He requires at least another 18 months in rehabilitation facilities with no prospect of being able to return to work at Jaguar Land Rover, where he was a supply chain manager with prospects of promotion.
Blondel Thompson, defending, said Bhatoy had worked for Jaguar Land Rover himself up until last week and was the main breadwinner in his family.
She said: “He is remorseful. In the conference I had with him he had just been crying at the way he behaved and the consequences for the complainant.”
Judge Carmel Wall said: “The injuries sustained were extremely serious. He suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures.
“The prognosis remains uncertain. Obviously those injuries have had a life-changing and devastating impact on him and also his family.
“There is no suggestion you are criminally responsible for causing those injuries.
“You don’t face any charges which allege that.
“Another court in civil proceedings maybe asked to decide whether you were at fault to any extent or if that had any bearing on the pedestrian’s injuries. It is not for me or this court to decide.”
Bhatoy was jailed for 14 months and was banned from driving for 16 months.
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