Cowardly pair jailed after deliberately running over NHS worker

Two men been jailed for intentionally hitting an NHS worker in Bristol with their car. Katungua Tjitendero, who was 21 at the time, was returning home from his job at Southmead Hospital when he was hit from behind by a vehicle on Monks Park Avenue around 4.30pm on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.

Patrick James, 22, residing at Broadlands Drive in Avonmouth, and Phillip Adams, 26, of Eastleigh Road in Southmead, fled from the scene after the accident, with one of them hurling a racially offensive remark at Mr Tjitendero. In the meantime, he was trapped against a wall which was partially destroyed due to the impact.

James and Adams were found guilty of conspiracy to cause intentional grievous bodily harm on Friday (September 27). They appeared at Bristol Crown Court this morning (Monday, September 30) and were sentenced to eight-and-a-half years and six years in prison respectively.

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However, Adams was not present in court. A warrant has been issued for Adams’ arrest and conversations have been held with the National Crime Agency to arrange his extradition from Dubai.

The court heard that bystanders rushed to assist Mr Tjitendero and he was promptly taken to hospital for urgent treatment for injuries including facial wounds, a broken nose, a fractured right leg and cuts to both his legs. A subsequent police investigation revealed that James had purchased the blue Honda Accord involved in the incident just a week prior, as reported by BristolLive.

CCTV footage captured him using the car and Adams' DNA was discovered inside. However, both men denied being in or driving the car at the time of the crash on Monks Park Road, as BristolLive reports.

Evidence from James' mobile phone shows footage of the car being used to knock a cyclist - Julian Ford - off his bike before fleeing the scene. The deliberate crash took place in Broadlands Drive, Lawrence Weston, on Sunday, July 12, 2020, and saw Mr Ford suffer fractured ribs and air and blood in his chest cavity.

The attack was filmed from inside the vehicle by James. He can be heard laughing before they hit him and afterwards as they drove away.

Impact of 'cowardly attack'

A statement read out on behalf of Mr Tjitendero's mother, Hivaka, outside court following today’s sentencing described the impact the attack had had on her son and her family. It said: “We are very mindful that this cowardly attack, during which the worst racist abuse was shouted at Katungua, has impacted on all of us – family, friends, community, city, nation and beyond. It has been a long journey and our family would like to thank everyone who came to Katungua’s aid.”

Her statement added: “Lastly, we love our lives, we love each other and we love living in Bristol. We love Bristol’s diversity, its art, its music, its sense of humour and decency, and its people.

“And we will continue to enjoy our lives in Bristol. We feel nothing but pity for the hate filled inadequate people that carried out this cowardly attack, for they and those like them have nothing to offer but hate.”

'Callous disregard was shown for the victims’ wellbeing'

Sentencing the pair, Judge Macmillan said Mr Tjitendero was a key worker, working for the NHS in the early stages of the pandemic when he was attacked. She said: “This was a terrible thing to do to another person, let alone to celebrate it,” adding that Adams “did not have the courage to come to court” for his sentence.

Detective Superintendent Mike Buck, who led the investigation into the attack on Katungua, said: “A callous disregard was shown for the victims’ wellbeing who suffered really significant injuries.

“They were deliberately driven at in horrendous attacks and it’s absolutely right that both men have today been handed lengthy prison sentences for their actions. The support of both Mr Ford and Mr Tjitendero and his family over the past four years has been invaluable and I’d again like to thank them for their patience while the investigation progressed.”