2 weeks Ago By The Telegraph
A convicted drink-driver who ran a red light on his and knocked down a pedestrian, fracturing her skull, has avoided a prison sentence. Joseph Pedelty, 34, who had 10 previous convictions including drink driving, fled the scene after he hit veterinary surgeon Raquel Delgado-Calo at traffic lights in Portsmouth on Jan 14 this year. Magistrates in the city were told Ms Delgado-Calo said she felt like she had been “hit by a bus” when Pedelty ran into her at significant speed on his .
She suffered a fractured skull and concussion, as well as lacerations to her head and skull which have left permanent scarring. “We approached a pedestrian crossing, just as we arrived the light was turning red and a car was stopping,” she said in a statement to the court. “I turned right and took a step and I felt a big impact.
The feeling I now have is it was like a heavy slap to my face. I was on the road thinking I had been hit by a bus. “I lifted my arms and legs to make sure I could move.
I could feel blood running down my face and what felt like meat between my teeth. It was only then I realised I had had an accident.” Dashcam footage recorded the moment Pedelty hit Ms Delgado-Calo, sending her flying to the ground.
After a brief stop to retrieve some personal items off the ground, Pedelty jumped back on his e-scooter and rode off. Giles Fletcher, prosecuting, said Pedelty was not insured, had failed to stop at the red traffic light, and fled the scene without helping Ms Delgado-Calo. “He failed to stop at the scene and caused a serious injury.
He disappears. You can see the surprise of the partner of the victim,” Mr Fletcher told the court. The court heard Ms Delgado-Calo spent three days in hospital where she was treated for “deep lacerations” to her forehead, stitches to her nose and a fractured skull.
In a victim impact statement, Ms she said she had to take three weeks off work as a result then undertake a three-week phased return to work. She suffered from concussion for eight weeks, and dizziness which caused her to cancel a surgery at work, as well as “ongoing anxiety” when crossing roads. Roni Pittman, defending, said Pedelty had gone out on the e-scooter to “clear his head”.
He told the court his client had turned himself in after media appeals to identify the driver of the e-scooter. “When the media call was put out there, he was shocked and horrified at the injuries this lady had suffered. He accepts his actions and this incident,” his lawyer said.
Ryan Rutlidge, the chairman of the magistrates, criticised Pedelty, from Waterlooville, Hants, for failing to stop to check on the welfare of his victim. However, he acknowledged Pedelty’s “remorse” and made him the subject of an 18-month community order which will require him to participate in 20 rehabilitation requirement activity days, as well as alcohol treatment. Pedelty – who admitted riding his scooter without insurance, failing to stop after an accident and failing to stop at a red light – was also disqualified from driving for 18 months, which includes the use of e-scooters.
He was fined £120 and ordered to pay costs of £199..
