Pensioner Suffers ‘Irreversible’ Injuries in Hit-and-Run Case

A 77-year-old man suffered “irreversible” injuries when a motorist driving at twice the speed limit struck him and fled the scene. 🚨

Liam Babbs, 26, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The incident occurred on June 1 last year when the victim, Cliff Roberts, was cleaning his car outside his house in Kingsley Avenue, Rhyl. Babbs drove around the corner at speed and struck him.

According to prosecutor Laura Knightly, “The defendant looked at Cliff lying on the floor screaming in pain and drove home.”

Emergency services flew Mr Roberts to Royal Stoke University Hospital where he was treated for multiple fractures to his lower spine, both legs, and an injured right knee. He required surgery and two blood transfusions.

In a statement, Mr Roberts described how the injuries have dramatically impacted his formerly active lifestyle. “Getting up hurts, sitting hurts, walking hurts, sleeping hurts,” he said. With metal rods now in his legs and significant mobility problems, he cannot visit his wife’s grave as often, see his son who lives three and a half hours away, or his brother who has cancer.

When officers found Babbs at home, he was in bed “and appeared to be pretending to be asleep.” When informed about the crash, he claimed his friend had borrowed the car. Forensic experts determined he had been travelling at 45mph in a 20mph zone.

At Mold Crown Court, Judge Simon Mills described Babbs’ actions as “callous” and “utterly shameful,” noting that the CCTV footage showed “a prolonged, persistent and deliberate course of dangerous driving.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Babbs was banned from driving for five years and four months and must pass an extended retest.

The father-of-three, who works as a window cleaner, was described by his defence as “genuinely remorseful” for his actions. ⚖️