Myra Wood was not able to eat solid food for six weeks after the collision
Shocking CCTV footage captured the moment an e-scooter rider knocked over a pensioner and broke her eye socket while he fled police.
Myra Wood, 79, was crossing the road near her home in Bexhill, East Sussex when Paul Satchell crashed into her at speed in December 2020.
The 58-year-old was evading police who had told him to get off his scooter as he was riding down Watermill Lane just moments before the collision.
Satchell wasn’t paying attention and looked back at the officers when he struck Wood – knocking her to the ground, fracturing her eye socket and causing a bleed to the brain.
CCTV captured the moment, which also showed how Satchell was thrown off the scooter, but was not hurt.
Officers arrested Satchell, seizing his e-scooter, and gave Wood first aid.
Nearly two years on, Wood said she is still not the same after the ordeal, which left her in hospital for two days, and unable to eat solid food for six weeks.
Wood previously enjoyed an active life with regular walks to the shops and church, but now suffers with extreme anxiety and fear of crossing the road.
“I can say that this collision left me with physical and mental scars that have fundamentally affected my quality of life,” she said, “I know I am a shadow of my former self.”
Satchell, of no fixed address, initially pleaded not guilty, and was sent to Crown Court for trial. But after failing to attend court on numerous occasions a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
He has since appeared at Lewes Crown Court where he was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and sentenced to 16 months jail. Satchell was also banned from driving for three years and eight months.
Wood agreed to CCTV footage being shared so that other e-scooter riders could see the dangers posed to pedestrians.
Speaking after the case, Collision Unit investigator Chris McGuckin said police were pleased they could get justice for Wood and added: “[The case demonstrates] the harm that can be caused by e-scooters, which are still illegal to use in public, outside of a trial area.”
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