by Keith Hunt

A confrontation outside a jobcentre ended with a man suffering a serious injury when run over by a car, a court heard.

Craig Smith suffered a broken leg in the incident and is still on crutches almost a year later.

Maidstone Crown Court was told Mr Smith was waiting for an appointment at the jobcentre in The Brook, Chatham, on September 8 last year.

Priyadarshani Khanna, prosecuting, said Mr Smith had left his dog tied up outside but discovered he had gone. He saw the pet was in a Vauxhall Astra car parked nearby owned by Lewis Lo.

Mr Smith went over to the car to find out why his dog was there. Lo’s fiance Stacey-Karen Uren jumped out and there was an altercation.

She went on to assault Mr Smith with a dog chain, causing an injury to his eye, said Miss Khanna.

Lo then became involved and Mr Smith ran back to the jobcentre. Both Lo, 36, and Uren followed. Lo and Mr Smith argued inside the jobcentre before staff managed to get them outside.

Lo, known as Diesel, and Uren ran back to the car and Mr Smith followed, concerned about his dog. Miss Khanna said Mr Smith appeared at the front of the car and put his hands on the bonnet.

Witnesses described Lo revving the car and the tyres spinning with smoke coming from them. Lo drove off and the wheels went over Mr Smith’s left leg.
He was taken to hospital and treated for a fracture to his lower leg.

Lo, of Wylie Road, Hoo, was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He denied both charges.

He will be sentenced on September 28 with Uren, 30, of the same address, who admitted assault.