A young driver full of bravado bragged to his buddy about acquiring a powerful ride and frequently ignoring traffic signals, shortly before he ran over an elderly pedestrian.
Sonny Horsfall, just 18, found himself out of control in his recently purchased Audi A4, veered off the road and tragically collided with 84-year-old Eddie, who was out for an evening stroll on April 22.
Incredibly, following this devastating incident, Horsfall chose not to stop or even attempt to assist the gravely injured Eddie, who lay helpless on the sidewalk.
Rather than act responsibly, he went on to order a pizza from a nearby takeaway and sent a voice message to a friend claiming he’d just ‘smashed’ into someone.
The aspiring chef messaged with indifference, saying, ‘I just went skid up the kerb. F*** knows what I hit. Sorry bro, I am eating a pizza.’
He continued: ‘Bro, the man got smashed. Like bro, I think I have killed him, me bro, wow.’
Horsfall also said he had ‘ripped the f****** key out in panic’ and ‘ran two houses down’ after the harrowing collision, which was caught on CCTV.
The victim, Eddie, suffered multiple pelvic fractures and fractures to his back and right foot during the collision in Redcar, North Yorkshire.
The harrowing moment Horsfall hits pensioner Eddie after losing control of his Audi A4
Horsfall (pictured) told his friends after the incident that he had ordered a takeaway pizza
He was placed in intensive care for almost a week after his condition deteriorated.
A court heard Horsfall, of Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, was disqualified from driving and was uninsured at the time he began dangerously driving around Redcar in his new car.
He had owned the vehicle for a matter of hours before the collision and was caught on camera recklessly driving around the area by speeding, dangerously overtaking other cars and running red lights.
He also filmed several videos while driving that were later discovered by police.
In one video, the teenager filmed himself driving and said: ‘I’ve just bought this beast’ and ‘smoke ’em boy’. In another, he bragged: ‘F*** this red light, you’re getting dusted’ as he ran through traffic lights.
Horsfall then mounted a pavement on West Dyke Road and hit Eddie, who had just left a local pub and was walking home. Members of the public later came to Eddie’s aid and he was rushed to hospital.
Just two hours later, Snapchat messages captured the remorseless teen telling a friend: ‘I went skid up the kerb, sorry bro I’m just eating a pizza, I’m having a takeaway mate.
‘Brother a man got smashed bruv. Like bad, he’s bad. I think I’ve killed him, wow.’
The teenager filmed himself driving and boasting that he had just ‘bought a beast’ hours before the collision
Pictured: CCTV shows the victim of the hit-and-run lying on the grass verge of the pavement
Horsfall did not stop or call an ambulance but instead fled the scene
He was arrested the following day after police found him in Malton, North Yorkshire.
Horsfall pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and with no insurance, and failing to stop after a road traffic accident.
He was jailed for three years and banned from driving for four years at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday.
After major surgery, Eddie – who was once completely independent – still suffers from leg pain and is slowly recovering. He can now walk a short distance using a walking frame.
In a victim impact statement, Eddie told the court: ‘Since the incident, I find myself questioning whether I will ever feel truly safe again, even when walking on the pavement.
‘This incident has caused devastating physical injuries, but its impact goes far beyond the injuries themselves.
‘It has taken away my confidence, my sense of safety, my independence, and, to a large extent, my dignity.
‘The loss of my independence and dignity is something I struggle to come to terms with every day.’
Eddie had left a local pub and was walking home when the incident happened. He said in a victim impact statement: ‘The loss of my independence and dignity is something I struggle to come to terms with every day’
Horsfall had owned the Audi (pictured) for a matter of hours before the incident
Eddie’s daughter, Carol, said: ‘Even now, I still struggle with what happened. I do not sleep properly and frequently find myself reliving the events of that night.
‘I constantly worry about my dad’s future and what lies ahead for him. There remains so much uncertainty regarding his long-term recovery and whether he will ever regain the independence he once enjoyed.’
Detective Constable Rachael Johnson, from Cleveland Police, said: ‘This was a shocking and wholly avoidable collision which has left an 84-year-old man with serious injuries while simply walking home on the pavement.
‘Sonny Horsfall mounted the pavement striking the victim and rather than remaining at the scene to assist an elderly man who had suffered serious injuries, he chose to think only of himself.
‘He fled the scene, went to an associate’s address nearby and ordered himself a pizza.
‘The circumstances of this case demonstrate a complete disregard for the safety of others.
‘Sonny Horsfall was uninsured, did not hold a driving licence and had been observed driving dangerously shortly prior to the collision.’
‘It is hoped the sentence handed to Sonny Horsfall today serves as a clear reminder of the consequences of disregarding the rules of the road.
Detective Johnson added: ‘Driving is a privilege and a responsibility, not a right. Anyone who gets behind the wheel without a licence, without insurance, or who drives recklessly is placing innocent members of the public at risk.
‘The outcome of this case could easily have been fatal.
‘We remain committed to pursuing those who choose to endanger others on our roads and ensuring they are held fully accountable for their actions.
‘I would like to thank members of the public for their assistance with the investigation, as well as those who stopped to provide aid and support to the victim at the scene.
‘Our thoughts remain with Eddie and his family as he continues his recovery.’