Hit and run driver jailed at Southampton Crown Court

Callum Darch ploughed into a 61-year-old woman on Christmas Day last year.

Despite hearing a “scream” the 21-year-old failed to stop his Vauxhall Corsa in Anstey Road, Romsey, a court heard.

His victim was left with two broken ankles and a broken leg with medical experts saying it will be “five years before her injuries plateau”.

Darch of Sutherland Close, Romsey appeared before Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday.

He was charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to give information relating to the driver, and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Prosecution barrister, Emily Lanham, told how Darch had originally claimed he was not the driver.

It was heard how after hitting two other cars and abandoning his vehicle, he went to his girlfriend’s address.

When police searched him they found a knuckle duster - a “souvenir”.

Furthermore, he was found to have 384 micrograms of benzoylecgonine - a breakdown product of cocaine - per litre of blood. The legal limit is 50.

However, it was revealed he had taken cocaine after fleeing the scene of the accident.

Darch was later sent a notice requiring him to name the driver which he did not complete.

Miss Lanham told how he has four previous convictions related to theft, criminal damage and offences against the person.

His last conviction was in April 2018 for which he received a nine-month community order.

Defending, Khalid Missouri, argued the incident was “extremely out of character” and that “he did not think through his behaviour”.

He comes from a “good family”, Mr Missouri added.

The court heard how Darch had been driving with a frosted windscreen and was trying to see what was going on by poking his head out the drivers’ window.

He “panicked” and is very “ashamed for not stopping the car”.

Judge Nicholas Rowland jailed him for two years and banned him from driving for 36 months, which will begin after his release.