Eastleigh Texaco petrol station driver ploughed car into two women

Richard Taylor had been arguing with his partner at the Texaco petrol station on Southampton Road, Eastleigh moments before the incident.

The 32-year-old, of no fixed address, drove off after the row leaving his girlfriend in “some distress”.

But when an innocent bystander went to check on her, Taylor turned his vehicle around, and drove straight towards them both.

He then began shouting at the good Samaritan to “get away from my girlfriend” before ploughing the vehicle into both his partner and the woman.

Richard Taylor. Photo from: Hampshire Constabulary. (Image: Hampshire Constabulary.)

Sentencing, Judge Peter Henry said that Taylor had “deliberately” driven into them and was “indifferent to the fact that [his girlfriend] was standing there with an innocent bystander”.

He added: “It is pure luck that these two women were not more seriously damaged."

Taylor was later arrested. Police found a knife and nunchucks in his boot.

He later admitted dangerous driving, possession of a bladed article, possession of an offensive weapon, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mitigating, Daniel Sawyer told the court “he’s clearly a young man who has had difficulties with mental health” and that “he clearly recognises that he has got these difficulties”.

He added that Taylor has paid privately for counselling to try and help and that he “had no intention of using [the weapons]”.

But Judge Henry added that Taylor has 32 previous convictions for 35 offences with a “good proportion” of those involving violence.

The court was told how the victim still has flashbacks and “wakes up screaming” in the night.

READ MORE: Southampton man smashed girlfriend's head and slammed foot in door during row

Taylor was jailed for three years and nine months at Southampton Crown Court on Friday.

The judge ruled Taylor is a “dangerous man” and that “the public need to be protected”.

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