Driver jailed for leaving friend, 27, paralysed after running him over 'as a joke'

A driver has been jailed after his friend was left paralysed when he ran him over “as a joke”.

The victim, a 27-year-old man, suffered spinal injuries and was paralysed in all four limbs following the “joke gone wrong”.

Taha Biston, 44, sped towards his friend in a BMW as he crossed the road, accidentally running him over in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, on 20 May last year.

Biston had his two children in the car as he veered on to the wrong side of the road before hitting the man, catapulting him into the air.

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He initially stayed at the scene but left to take his children home, before he later returned and was arrested.

Biston, from Peterborough, told police he had seen his friend crossing the road and drove at him “as a joke” but claimed his brakes failed when he tried to stop.

However, when officers seized and examined Biston’s BMW, they found no contributory defects.

The collision left the victim a quadriplegic with no voluntary movement in his arms and legs.

In April, Biston pleaded guilty at Peterborough Magistrates Court to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

In sentencing last Friday, he was jailed for one year and 10 months and disqualified from driving for two years.

The victim, who now lives in a care home and asked to remain anonymous, said: “He [Biston] said that he drove at me for a joke, but it’s no joke, I am the one who is here with no future.

“I am a relatively young man at 27 but now my life will never be the same, there are so many dreams that I will not be able to accomplish.

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"I don’t want to ask for things from people for the rest of my life, I have zero hope.

"Even now when I hear a bang on the door or any loud noise it reminds me of the collision and I feel scared."

In a statement, PC Dave Black, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit, said: “Biston's driving was reckless and completely irresponsible.

”He lost control of his BMW and, as a result, his friend’s life will never be the same again.

“The victim now requires 24/7 care for the rest of his life and his quality of life has been severely diminished.

“I hope this case highlights how important it is for motorists to always treat driving seriously and with respect. Not doing so can end up seriously injuring someone or worse."

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