Archway man caged after his ‘appalling, terrifying driving’ leaves woman unable to walk

An Archway man has been jailed for 32 months after his “appalling and terrifying driving” left a woman severely injured and unable to walk.

Lee Smith, 23, of Chester Road, was sentenced to two years and eight months on Friday at Wood Green Crown Court after he mowed down a pedestrian and failed to stop.

Mr Recorder Hehir, passing sentence, described Smith’s driving as “inexplicable and inexcusable, injuring a victim who was blamelessly crossing the road leaving her lying at the roadside like a rag doll.”

On September 15, a police car with blue lights flashing was chasing the black Ford Focus Smith was driving.

As he drove along Shepherd Hill, near the junction with Archway Road, Highgate, he hit a 27-year-old woman leaving her with serious leg and head injuries.

He sped off, and police stopped to help the victim. She was taken to hospital and is now making a slow recovery, still unable to walk of work.

Smith abandoned the car and was later arrested in Tottenham.

Mr Recorder Hehir said Smith had indulged in “an appalling and terrifying piece of driving” and footage from the camera in the police car made “chilling viewing.”

At Highbury Magistrates Court on September 19, Smith pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, driving with no insurance and failing to stop after a road collision.

In addition to his jail term, he was disqualified from driving for 5 years subject to an extended retest.