An 85-year-old man who ran over a cafe owner, causing him permanent injuries, is to be sentenced at crown court.

Christodulous Yianni was convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Ali Dalkilic at The Stade in Folkestone.

But he was told the case was so grave that it could not be dealt with at a magistrates’ court for sentencing.

District Judge Justin Barron told Mr Yianni at Folkestone Magistrates Court: "My view is that this case is too serious for this court and should go to crown court.

"The injuries have been at the highest level and it is likely that Mr Dalkilic will be affected for the rest of his life."

Mr Dalkilic had given an impact statement to the court and Judge Barron directed crown court sentencing for a date to be confirmed.

A probation report will be produced in the meantime and Mr Yianni has been granted unconditional bail.

Mr Yianni, of Lucy Avenue, Folkestone, was convicted at the town’s magistrates court on February 5.

Mr Dalkilic, 46, who runs the Captain’s Table, was run down by Mr Yianni’s grey Peugeot outside the cafe as he was serving customers last June 21.

KentOnline reported at the time that the cafe owner had to be flown to St George’s Hospital in London in a life-threatening condition.

He received treatment for more than an hour at the scene after he suffered severe injuries to his head, legs and chest.

"The injuries have been at the highest level and it is likely that Mr Dalkilic will be affected for the rest of his life..." - District Judge Justin Barron

A few days later his son, Orhan, confirmed to KentOnline's sister paper the Folkestone and Hythe Express that his father was in a critical but stable condition.

Both his legs and right wrist were broken and he was on a ventilator with collapsed lungs.

Ali Dalkilic’s cafe has never opened up in the eight months since his horrific accident.

He will probably never be able to work fully again because of his injuries but hopes to reopen and run the business working part-time, his son says.

Orhan Dalkilic, 28, said: "I don't think he will be able to work at all. The damage to his legs and hip are too much.

"The business has been closed since the accident but he wants to reopen it. He wants to eventually work there a few hours a day and get help from staff.

"However, that would be a long way away, he still needs more operations on his legs."

Orhan said his father was in hospital for three months - first at St George’s in London and then the William Harvey in Ashford.

Ali was in a coma for the first 17 days and while he is now back home, he is bedridden.

Orhan, who runs the Blackbull Cafe in Black Bull Road, Folkestone, said: "This has also affected him psychologically. He says he has had nightmares and flashbacks."

Ali, a father of two sons, had only been running the Captain's Table for three months when he was injured.

He had previously run the Blackbull for nine years before Orhan bought it from him.