City worker stepped out into traffic after row with girlfriend who spent two hours on phone, court hears

A City financier walked out into seven lanes of traffic after he rowed with his girlfriend who he claimed spoiled a romantic meal by talking on her phone for two hours, a court heard.

Stephen Jennings attempted to claim over £1 million in compensation when he was struck by a black cab near London's Park Lane hotel in 2012. 

The financial systems analyst rushed blindly into the road following an argument with his ex-partner, who he said had "rudely" talked on her phone for two hours after the pair sat down for a meal to celebrate a business deal, Central London County Court heard.

Mr Jennings, from Windsor, suffered devastating head injuries when he was struck by the cab, and had to give up his highly paid job.

He sued the cab driver for over £1 million - mainly lost earnings - claiming his negligence caused the accident.

But Judge Alan Saggerson has now thrown out his claim, saying Mr Jennings' injuries resulted from his own "stupidity" in running into the road.

The court heard Mr Jennings, aged in his 40s, went to the hotel with his then partner, "intending to celebrate a business deal," on the evening of September 6 2012.

"But," said Judge Saggerson, "the celebration didn't go according to plan."

As the pair sat down to dinner, Mr Jennings said his girlfriend took a call on her mobile and she was on the phone "for two hours".

She ate her dinner and downed a bottle of wine whilst chatting away, he told the court.

The judge said a disgruntled Mr Jennings "ended up drinking by himself in the hotel bar".

"It was rude of my then girlfriend to be on the phone," said Mr Jennings. "She was on the phone to Australia for two hours.

"She ordered food and drank a whole bottle of wine. I went to the hotel bar and had a beer or two and when I got back she was still on the phone."

The couple then left the hotel "in a volatile state of mind and temper," said the judge.

"A physical argument ensued", next to the busy seven-lane traffic interchange at Marble Arch.

At the climax of the confrontation between the couple, Mr Jennings rushed into the traffic.

He was "ducking and diving" between lines of cars in an "almost suicidal" attempt to get away, said the judge.

The moment of madness lasted until he was knocked down by the cab, hitting his head on the road.

Andrew Ritchie QC, for Mr Jennings, claimed the taxi driver was driving too fast and would have seen the pedestrian in the road had he been keeping a proper lookout.

Outside court during the case, Mr Ritchie assessed the value of Mr Jennings' claim at "over £1m".

His solicitor, Nicholas Davis, said his head injuries had left him with epilepsy and memory issues which had forced him to quit the City.

But the judge ruled: "The allegation of negligence aimed at the taxi driver is utterly unrealistic.

"The sole material cause of this accident was Mr Jennings' own stupidity in attempting to cross these lanes of busy traffic and having his attention diverted by his own misbehaviour and his argument with his girlfriend."

"I reject the contention that any of the particulars of negligence is made out," the judge concluded, dismissing the damages claim.