Man Jailed for Deliberately Driving Van into Pedestrians

A shocking hit-and-run incident in Blackwood town centre has led to a substantial prison sentence for a 29-year-old man who deliberately drove his van into three people during a night out. 🚨

Dean Murray “put his foot down” and swerved onto the pavement, striking Libby West, Ben Angel and Brandon Sweeney with his Renault Kangoo on Blackwood High Street in the early hours of Sunday, November 13, 2022.

Newport Crown Court heard that Murray had been “flirting” with Miss West, a mother-of-three, before being told to “f*** off”. He then performed a U-turn and deliberately drove into the group she was with around 3:40am.

After hitting the three victims, Murray fled the scene, abandoning his damaged van approximately three miles away. The victims were taken to hospital by ambulance but fortunately escaped with minor injuries.

Prosecutor Paul Hewitt told the court: “There was the use of a highly dangerous weapon.”

In her victim impact statement, Miss West said: “I never go anywhere alone now and I feel nervous around cars.”

Murray, who admitted to consuming alcohol and taking amphetamine before the incident, initially denied being the driver but later pleaded guilty to three counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and one count of dangerous driving.

The defendant, from Cwm Lane, Govilon, near Abergavenny, has six previous convictions for 17 offences, including a 26-month prison sentence in 2017 for grievous bodily harm following a New Year’s Eve assault on a girlfriend.

Defence barrister Matthew Comer asked the court to consider the long delay in bringing the case to court and noted that Murray has a developing career as an apprentice farrier.

Recorder Robin Rouch told Murray during sentencing: “What you did was wholly unjustified. You decided to use your car as a weapon. It’s fortunate that the victims were not more severely injured.”

Murray was sentenced to four years and four months in prison and will serve two-thirds before release on licence. He was also disqualified from driving for 22 months following his release and will need to pass an extended retest. 🚗