SMASH HORROR
Terrifying moment teenager mows down trainee doctor and his wife seconds after they told him he was ‘too drunk to drive’
Joshua Bunn then attempted to cover his tracks, the court heard
THIS is the terrifying moment a teenager mowed down a trainee doctor and his wife - seconds after they told him he was "too drunk to drive".
Joshua Bunn, now 22, smashed into Claire Winters and her husband Connor in Oldham near Manchester just after midnight on September 19 2020.
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Claire and Connor were on their way home after going out for a meal when they saw Bunn "staggering" across a car park.
When Bunn got into a car, Connor went over and told him he "shouldn't be drinking and driving".
But as the couple walked away, Bunn ploughed into Connor from behind - knocking him off his feet.
Shocking footage shows how Bunn then reversed before mounting the kerb again and speeding towards the couple.
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He narrowly missed Connor - but smashed into Claire and then sped off.
Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard it was a "miracle" that Claire was knocked through a tiny gap in the wall instead of being crushed against it.
In a victim impact statement, Claire said: "Thank God that gap was there, otherwise I genuinely think I would have been killed that night.
"As the car reversed for the second time I remember thinking: 'This is it. I am going to die.
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"'My daughter is going to wake up in the morning without her mummy and for what?'
"I was left feeling terrified. How can another human being do this to someone?
"I remember being scared they were going to come back and finish us off."
'TERRIFYING'
Claire could not sleep for several months after the crash - and is now having counselling for post-traumatic stress.
Trainee doctor Connor had to put his studies on hold, and may now have to pay to retake a year of university.
He told the court: "Thankfully and miraculously our injuries were quite minor, but emotionally the impact has been very hard.
"There has been anger and frustration - but most of all I felt guilty.
"If I hadn't stopped and told him to stop driving while he was clearly intoxicated then none of this would have happened.
"I know logically I didn't do anything wrong, but I still feel guilty."
TEEN'S LIES
Bunn claimed at first that he had been attacked by Connor before "blacking out" - and that he had "no recollection" of the smash.
He admitted drinking two bottles of beer, but denied being drunk or on drugs.
But yesterday Bunn was jailed for four years and seven months after pleading guilty to actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, and attempted grievous bodily harm.
The 22-year-old was also banned from driving for five years after court delays held the case up for more than three years.
Recorder Nathan Moxon said Claire was "fortunate not to have been pinned against the wall".
He added: "We have all watched the CCTV footage. It is terrifying.
"It is a miracle there were not more significant injuries. Had there not been a gap in the wall, death would have been foreseeable."
Speaking afterwards, Claire said: "It's gone on for such a long time. I'm just happy he received any form of custodial sentence.
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"I have all the signs of PTSD. I frequently hear the car engine and smell it revving. I feel like I had a near-death experience.
"If that gap hadn't been there I would have been crushed. I would have died."
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