Sisters' terror driver given jail term

Hooley was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court

A driver who ran over a woman outside a nightclub and reversed over her sister as she tended to her has been jailed for seven years.

After a night out with friends, Daniel Hooley of Cardiff drove into a group of girls and knocked down Joanne White.

Not content with leaving matters there you drove back and you stopped and reversed over Joanne White again

Judge John Griffith Williams QC

As Bernadette White kneeled down to nurse her injured sister, whose leg was broken, Hooley, from the Ely area of the city, reversed back over the pair, reportedly shouting "I'll kill you all" before speeding off.

The judge at Cardiff Crown Court jailed Hooley for seven years on Thursday and disqualified him from driving for the same period.

Group of friends

Before the incident on 18 May, Hooley had been to a nightclub with a group of friends including his pregnant girlfriend.

He left the club and got into his car as the rest walked to get a takeaway. Nicholas Gareth Jones, prosecuting, told the court Joanne White had got into a fight with another girl.

He said: "Then the defendant appeared in his car and drove towards the group, including the two girls, and drove across the central reservation onto the pavement, deliberately driving at Joanne White and the group that was there."

Then the defendant appeared in his car and drove towards the group

Judge John Williams QC

Bernadette White was kneeling down, tending to her injured sister, when Hooley appeared again and reversed over both women.

Mr Jones said an eyewitness saw the car go over Joanne White's legs while the defendent shouted: "I'll kill you all."

Her leg was broken and she suffered serious injury to her ankle and severe bruising.

Injured Miss White's boyfriend, Vincent Smith, tried to grab Hooley, but was dragged across the road and around a corner by his car.

Broken leg

Miss White needed to have a metal plate inserted in her lower leg and had to stay in hospital for three-and-a-half days after the incident. Bernadette White and Mr Smith suffered severe bruising and grazing.

Hooley's car was later discovered abandoned and Hooley was arrested the day after the incident, when he told police he was attacked by Mr Smith and others.

Andrew Shanahan, defending, said Hooley drove at the group because he saw the fight and feared for the safety of his pregnant girlfriend.

"Whatever happened, Mr Hooley accepts that he lost control and he accepts causing the injuries in the deliberate way that has been described," he said.

"It's very fortunate that he didn't kill somebody. He's aware of that and he knows he has to be punished."

Judge John Griffith Williams QC said: "You made matters worse because you drove not just at Joanne White but at a group of people.

"Her sister, who was tending to her, ended up under your car and sustained serious injury.

"Not content with leaving matters there you drove back and you stopped and reversed over Joanne White again. It's fortunate indeed that she sustained injuries that were not life threatening."

After Hooley has served his seven-year sentence and driving disqualification, he must take an extended driving test. His baby is due next year.