Teenager sentenced after stealing a car, fleeing officers and running pedestrian over
The man was on the run for nearly six months after the incident in January this year
A man who was on the run from officers for nearly six months has been sentenced after stealing a car, fleeing from officers and running a pedestrian over.
Anthony Maher - known as AJ - who is 19 and from Whaddon Road in Cheltenham appeared at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday (16th June) after pleading guilty at his first court appearance last month.
He was sentenced to two years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving plus aggravated vehicle taking (initial taker) and dangerous driving.
Maher will serve one year in custody before being released on license for the second year. Upon release from prison he will be disqualified from driving for three years.
On Friday 22 January 2021 Maher stole a unique Black Mitsubishi Evo which was parked in a communal car park on Shakespeare Road.
The car had a tracker fitted which was then used to follow the vehicle. The tracker allowed officers to monitor Maher as he drove around Cheltenham and then to Bishops Cleeve.
Officers from the Roads Policing Unit caught up with him in Bishops Cleeve when he failed to stop.
They requested support from the National Police Air Service and Maher was followed to Millham Lane before a stinger was deployed.
It was at this point when Maher mounted and drove along a footpath within a housing estate in a bid to evade officers, he narrowly missed one pedestrian before colliding with a second.
Maher and one other person fled from the car and did not attempt to check on the injured pedestrian who was trapped under the car.
He was traced to a nearby address and arrested on suspicion of failing to stop and dangerous driving. The passenger who ran was tracked by NPAS, directing officers who arrested them.
Three men were arrested within the house and fourth on the street after being followed by a police helicopter.
All four were interviewed and released under investigation whilst officers conducted further enquiries, which included digital technologies and forensic analysis. A number of mobile phones were seized from the group and one showed a video of Maher driving the stolen car.
The man who was run over by Maher was left bed bound for four months after sustaining serious leg and foot injuries. This has affected him both physically and mentally.
Maher had been wanted since January of this year (2022) and part of the enquiries to locate him included a feature on Crimewatch Live as part of a wanted faces segment.
He was located by officers on Wednesday 18 May after additional enquiries were conducted and numerous wanted appeals were issued.
He appeared at Cheltenham Magistrate's Court the following day and pleaded guilty to the offences.
Investigating officer PC Damian Brogan said: "Maher posed a significant risk of harm to the public due to his reckless and selfish behaviour.
"His actions alone resulted in an innocent member of the public receiving serious injuries, that affect them to this day.