A getaway driver who caused “life-changing” injuries to his passenger and another motorist as he sped off after a theft has been jailed.
Ayodeji Oyewole was sent to prison for four years after admitting theft and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving which occurred on September 23 last year.
Sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, Recorder Richard Booth QC described the defendant’s driving as “horrific”.
The court heard that the 30-year-old, from Garth Avenue in Pontypridd , was involved in a theft on Queen Street in Treforest.
Prosecutor David Pugh said Jose Silvarosa had withdrawn more than £7,000 in cash from Barclays Bank in Taff Street in Pontypridd to pay for some building work.
The court heard Oyewole and Alex Morgan “hatched a plan” to steal the cash from Mr Silvarosa and Morgan “snatched” his bag later that evening.
'Barely in control'
The prosecutor said Oyewole was waiting in a silver Ford Fiesta and the pair sped off but were involved in a “serious” collision about a mile later, near Glyntaff Cemetery.
One witness described seeing the car “flying” down the road and the driver struggling to control the vehicle at “excessive” speed.
Another saw the Fiesta travel the wrong way around a roundabout and continue on the wrong side of the carriageway.
Other eyewitnesses described his driving as “frightening” and “barely in control”, with one recalling how he swerved and almost hit a bollard.
The court heard the collision occurred around 8.45pm in a 40mph zone on the A473 Llantwit Road in dark and wet driving conditions.
Mr Pugh said the defendant was overtaking on a blind bend when his Fiesta entered a head-on collision with Pamela Volausek’s Hyundai estate car.
In a victim impact statement, she said: “I saw two sets of headlights coming towards me and I had very little time to do anything. I really thought I was going to die.”
She added: “It was the most horrific experience of my life – knowing I could do nothing to avoid the impact.
"Although I was wearing a seatbelt I was thrown around like a rag doll.”
Post-traumatic stress
A witness described seeing Oyewole throw something over a nearby wall, which was later found to be the bag containing stolen cash.
The court heard the three casualties were rushed to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.
Ms Volausek was found to have multiple injuries including broken ankles, seven broken ribs, internal bruising, and a gashed knee.
She spent the next nine weeks in hospital and was told she would need extensive physiotherapy to walk again and is likely to develop arthritis in her ankles.
The grandmother-of-four was also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
She said: “The noise of the crash is still ringing in my ears. Every time I close my eyes I see those two sets of headlights coming towards me.”
Ms Volausek described herself as a “fun” grandma who enjoyed taking her grandchildren to the beach, swimming and trampolining.
The court heard she had only had one sick day in the last 28 years and also enjoyed power walking.
She added: “I was a healthy, active, confident, happy woman working in a full-time job. It has been life-changing.”
'Very dangerous'
The prosecutor said Alex Morgan is still in hospital and has been left unable to walk or talk.
In a victim impact statement his father said he did not recognise his son when he saw him in intensive care.
He said: “Seeing my boy there like that – I was devastated. Every bone in his body was smashed.”
The court heard doctors initially gave him six weeks to live and since said it was unlikely he would ever live independently again.
Oyewole was arrested at hospital and accepted he had been driving the car at the time of the collision.
Alex Greenwood, defending, said his client spent two months in hospital and also suffered multiple injuries.
He told the court the defendant lost his job in IT suddenly in June 2015, which prompted a “rapid downturn”.
The court heard Oyewole had a previous conviction for criminal damage and these offences were committed in breach of a conditional discharge for shoplifting.
Mr Greenwood stressed his client had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and shown remorse, adding: “He has to live with the knowledge that he is directly responsible.”
Recorder Booth said: “This was very dangerous driving indeed.”
Referring to Ms Volausek, he said: “Her life has been altered for ever. No longer will she be able to be the active grandmother with her four grandchildren.”
The judge accepted that Alex Morgan was involved in the theft but said the defendant caused him “the gravest of injuries”.
Oyewole was sentenced to four years in prison.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/getaway-driver-jailed-causing-life-11805666
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