Jail for 'road rage' attacker

Mr Garcha worked at the family shop in Darlington

A motorist who ran over a shopkeeper leaving him brain-damaged after he refused to sell cigarettes to his teenage son, has been jailed for four years.

Teesside Crown Court was told accountant Rakhvinder Singh Garcha had refused to sell the cigarettes to the 15-year-old boy and his father Alan Rees.

The court heard Rees then stormed into the shop making threats.

Mr Garcha, 22, who helped to run the family newsagents and off-licence in Faverdale, Darlington, followed him outside and stood in front of the family's Astra car.

Rees then drove off at speed, leaving Mr Garcha spread-eagled across the bonnet.

After 50 yards he was thrown off, but suffered brain injuries in the fall.

Driving ban

The damage to his brain was permanent and had led to a catastrophic change to his life, the court was told.

Rees, 38, from Auckland Grove, Darlington, was jailed for four years and banned from driving for 12 years.

He was cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but convicted of grievous bodily harm after the incident on 28 March.

He was also found guilty of dangerous driving and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

His wife, Elizabeth, 39, was given a three year rehabilitation order after she changed her plea to guilty to a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Sentencing Rees, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, Peter Fox QC, said that it was the worst case of inflicting grievous bodily harm he had encountered in nearly 40 years.