Man left scene after causing youngster serious injuries in Powys crash

Surveyor Gabriel Agu, 57, of Stoke on Trent was leaving Knighton after working in the area for the day when he hit the schoolgirl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The girl suffered two fractured tibia, lacerations to the spleen, right adrenal gland, a deep cut and abrasions to the abdomen, right arm and upper legs in the collision. She was airlifted to the Heath Hospital in Cardiff where she underwent surgery.

The court heard the girl is recovering and is due to have another operation later this year.

Agu admitted driving a Toyota Rav4 on the A488 Ffrydd Road, Knighton, without due care and attention and failing to report an accident on September 14, when he appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court.

He said he failed to stop at the scene, because he feared what onlookers would do as he has suffered racist abuse in the past.

Prosecuting, Stephen Davies said at 3.50pm on September 14, the youngster got off the bus near Knighton Hospital and started to cross the road.

At the time the road was clear but then she saw a black car and turned to try and get back to the pavement, but she was hit by the vehicle.

Members of the public and hospital staff assisted the youngster until the ambulance and air ambulance arrived.

Agu left the scene but police tracked his vehicle and he was later arrested at his home.

In interview the next day, he said he had been working in Knighton, finished work, travelled down Ffrydd Road and he saw the victim on the right hand side.

He said he tried to emergency stop, the vehicle slowed but it did not stop and he hit the girl.

Defending, Virgina Hayton said Agu had never been in court previously.

She said he had never had a collision before in Britain or Nigeria and although he had lived and worked here for many years, he had suffered verbal racial abuse many times, particularly in this area.

She said he was dismissed from his job after the incident but has been working as a freelance quantity surveyor for another company and travels all over the country for work.

She said: “He said by the time he saw the girl in the middle of the road, it was too late to stop, there is no evidence that he was exceeding the speed limit.

“He carried on driving down the road and stopped. He could see people around the girl and feared repercussions for what he had done. He also googled what he should do in the circumstances and read that he had 24 hours to report the matter.”

She said Agu wanted to get home and then report it to the police, and in hindsight admitted he should have stopped.

Agu was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months.

He will have to complete 80 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation days, pay £85 costs and a £115 surcharge.

He was also banned from driving for six months.