A driver who deliberately drove at a man, dragging him under his car for nine metres, has been convicted of manslaughter after a trial at the Old Bailey.

Uran Nabiev, 63, of Bexley Road, Erith, is due to be sentenced today for the hit-and-run that killed 26-year-old Jake Kemp.

The court heard on October 19 last year, Mr Kemp from Barnehurst, had been drinking with his friend in a pub in Bexley Road.

The pair left just before midnight heading to a garage to buy more alcohol before making their way to a friend's house.

Mr Kemp and his friend left the property in the early hours, walking along Bexley Road.

Along the way, Mr Kemp's friend punched and broke the wing mirror of a parked Toyota Prius in what he later admitted to police was an act of drunken stupidity.

As they continued, the pair were unaware the owner of the vehicle, Nabiev, was awake in his home and witnessed the damage.

Nabiev got into his car and drove after them. He mounted the pavement and hit Mr Kemp's friend, pushing him up onto the bonnet. He then fell to the ground, suffering a dislocated shoulder.

Mr Kemp ran to the other side of the road where Nabiev made a U-turn and sped down the pavement towards him.

When he stumbled and fell, Nabiev drove over him, dragging his body under the car approximately nine metres before driving off, leaving Mr Kemp on the ground.

Police, the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance attended to find Mr Kemp unconscious with a brain injury. He was taken to hospital where he died three days later.

Just five hours after the hit and run, Nabiev booked a flight back to his native country of Azerbaijan.

As a result of CCTV evidence, police went to Nabiev’s home and recovered the Toyota Prius.

The car was examined and found to be missing a driver’s side mirror and a windscreen wiper. The car had signs of minor damage, however the brakes and steering were all found to be working.

Nabiev was arrested on suspicion of murder when he returned to the country at Luton Airport on November 10.

He was interviewed and gave a prepared statement saying he “did not intend in any way to cause the death of Mr Kemp and/or attempt the killing of any other person”.

Following the conviction, in a statement, Mr Kemp's family said: “Our son, Jake Kemp, died in a hit and run on Bexley Road in Bexley – he was hit on October 19 and died of his injuries on October 22.

"As a family we would like to thank our friends, community and the police for their continued support.

"We reserve special thanks for our QC, the CPS and the witness service staff at the court. Also all the witnesses who gave evidence at the trial in difficult circumstances.

"We would give anything to have Jake back, he will continue to live in our hearts and will live on in many other lives.

"Please continue to respect our privacy during this difficult time allow us this time to grieve.”

DI Jason Fitzpatrick, the officer in the case, said: “Jake had done nothing wrong that night, he just happened to be with a friend who did a stupid act. It seems incredible that a young man should lose his life, and his family left devastated, over such a trivial matter.

“Nabiev will now face the consequences of that night’s terrible actions. I hope this result gives Jake’s family some closure, they continue to be in our thoughts.”

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