The university student said he wanted to ‘spin the car like on TV’ and told police he ‘just felt like it’
Hlobelam Nongwr, of Willmer Road in Anfield, aged 20(Image: Merseyside Police)
A university student performed doughnuts in a BMW on an Aldi supermarket car park but lost control and ploughed into a shopper. Hlobelam Nongwr left the woman in hospital with a broken leg after “deciding to spin the car like on TV” in spite of his passenger warning him to stop.
He went on to tell police that he had undertaken the “highly dangerous” manoeuvre as he “just felt like it”. He was left holding his head in his hands today as he was sent to prison over the incident.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Thursday, that Nongwr, who is known as Gift, drove two of his friends to the Aldi store on Salop Street in Walton at around 9.30pm on April 8 this year in order to buy food, despite only holding a provisional licence and being uninsured. While the 20-year-old, of Willmer Road in Anfield, was said to have “driven normally” en route, he was said to have “started driving at speed and going around in circles, doing doughnuts” upon arrival at his destination.
Georgiana Panteli, prosecuting, described how several cars were already parked outside the supermarket at the time, with others “coming and going” and pedestrians also being present in the vicinity. One, Katarzyna Dybalska, was crossing the car park on foot, wearing a yellow hi-vis vest while pushing a trolley full of shopping.
While Nongwr’s front seat passenger “told him to stop multiple times” as he swerved around, the defendant “didn’t listen to him”. He then collided with Ms Dybalska, sending her flying into a wall which he then careered into and destroyed.
The victim was taken to hospital after suffering fractures to her tibia and ankle, later undergoing surgery. While she remains off work at present as a result of her injuries, she is expected to make a full recovery with “no lifelong consequences”.
Nongwr, who was arrested at the scene, subsequently told detectives under interview that he “decided to spin the car like on TV for no particular reason” and that he “just felt like it”. The cannabis user stated that he had last smoked the class B drug the day beforehand and “became tearful” when CCTV footage of the crash was played to him.
Lucy Moran, defending, told the court: “This was a spur of the moment, impulsive, albeit awful, mistake. He is remorseful for his actions. He has been attending church for two years.
“He is now a student representative at university and is employed at Hill Dickinson Stadium, and has been referred to talking therapies for mental health support. Gift is ready and willing to comply with any requirements that the court imposes.”
Nongwr admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey suit jacket over a shirt and tie, he was seen with his head in his hands at times during the hearing before being jailed for 20 months.
Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: “You were driving a car in a supermarket car park. You were trying to complete manoeuvres known as a doughnut, in other words, putting the car into a spin.
“You did this in vicinity of shoppers. One, Katarzyna Dybalska, was pushing her shopping, wearing a high visibility vest. You lost control of the car and collided with her, and she was then pressed against the wall by the car.
“There were passengers in your car. One of them says that he told you multiple times to stop, but you did not listen. You said that you were spinning the car like on television, you just felt like it and lost control.
“This was obviously a highly dangerous manoeuvre. It was a deliberate decision to disregard the risk to others. You disregarded persistent warnings. The victim was a pedestrian, therefore a vulnerable road user. You did not have a licence and were not insured.
“You are 20, immature and of good character. You have work and are at university. It seems that you decided to complete these manoeuvres to see if you could, and you were excited about it. You were trying to impress your friends. You used to use cannabis, but now you have stopped.
“I accept that there is a low likelihood of reconviction here. I have read references about you, which say that you are of exceptional character, you uplift others, you are deeply remorseful, you have led church activities.
“I have read letters from you expressing remorse. You have reflected and taken steps to change your life and sought professional help. I cannot suspend this sentence. It is just too serious.”
Nongwr was also banned from the roads for a total of two years and 10 months. He will be required to pass an extended driving test before being allowed behind the wheel.