Wigan van man jailed for OAP hit-and-run smash

Stephen Lewis, 54, of Kent Street, Wigan, appeared before borough justices to plead guilty to being at the wheel of a Ford Transit which knocked down Agnes Gould on Darlington Street East, on September 28 2022, and failing to stop after leaving her seriously injured.

He also admitted to driving without due care and attention.

Jailing him for 18 weeks, the chair of the bench told Lewis: "Only a custodial sentence can be justified.

"This was a collision with an elderly pedestrian; you knew you had collided with someone and made off from the scene in a situation where you would have been asked to provide a specimen for analysis.

"Significant injury and distress were caused to the victim and her family.

"You also have a previous conviction for drink-driving from five years ago.

"The sentence must be punitive and must protect the public."

Lewis was also banned from the road for two years and ordered to pay £239 to the court in costs and to victim services.