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13
Dec 2021
Harrogate man jailed for 'using car as weapon' to cause serious injury
A Harrogate man has been sentenced to prison for causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
George McGeogh, 24, admitted using his car to injure his ex-girlfriend’s new partner on Knox Lane in May 2020.
Leeds Crown Court was told this morning that McGeogh “used his car as a weapon” to injure the man before driving off and leaving the scene of the incident.
McGeogh, of Harlow Park Road, was sentenced to 16 months in prison and disqualified from driving.
On May 1, 2020, McGeogh pulled up in his Volkswagen Golf on Knox Lane beside his ex-girlfriend and the victim, who were both named in court.
The pair were walking their dog, which the court heard the female had got while with McGeogh.
The court was told that McGeogh then got out of the car and shouted “you think you can walk my dog?”
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He started to throw punches at the man before returning to his car to try the boot. He then returned to throw more punches.
McGeogh got into his car and the victim started to run. McGeogh mounted the grass verge and broke before the man turned and slipped.
McGeogh then hit him with the car and then drove off.
'Highly remorseful'
The prosecution told the court that it was “miraculous” that the victim's only serious injury was a broken cheekbone.
The court heard that McGeogh had told a friend he needed to hand himself into police. He had also referred himself to mental health services following the incident.
In defence, Graeme Wilson QC, said that McGeogh “saw red mist” and it was “out of a character” for him.
He said:
Mr Wilson added that McGeogh had since found a stable relationship and was employing four people as a self-employed electrician.
Using car 'as a weapon'
Sentencing McGeogh, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said the only “appropriate punishment” was a custodial sentence.
He said:
Judge Marson described the attack as "wholly unprovoked" and added:
Judge Marson said he accepted that McGeogh did not intend to run over the man and that the defendant had shown “genuine level of remorse”.
McGeogh is expected to serve half of his 16 months sentence before being released from prison on licence.
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