A THUG who drove over another man several times in his car, causing him serious injuries, has started a 14-year jail sentence.

The sentence for attempted murder was passed on Daniel Conway on Monday after a judge heard a moving statement from victim David Thomas about how his life had been ruined.

Mr Thomas almost died after contracting the MRSA infection in hospital and faced the prospect of losing the leg that was crushed under the wheels of Conway’s car.

Conway, of Swallowtail Close, Orpington, showed no emotion as a judge told him: “One day you will be free and be able to resume your life. However, in the case of David Thomas that can never be the case."

Maidstone Crown Court had heard how Conway, 21, hunted down his victim after they clashed at the Déjà Vu night club in Swanley on September 12 last year.

Mr Thomas was with friends when there was a disagreement at the bar. He remonstrated with two men, one of whom was Conway, for being abusive to a barmaid. After turning away he was punched by one of the men. He complained to a bouncer but was ejected from the club. Once outside, he continued to complain to door staff. He also called the police.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Thomas saw one of the men again and ran across and punched him. He then fled as others gave chase. It was then that Conway went to the car park and got into his Ford Granada.

Giving evidence from behind screens as a vulnerable witness, Mr Thomas said: “The next thing the car came flying up the road. I turned and saw the car in front of me. It just came at me and hit me.

“It happened very quickly. My head hit the bonnet and flew back. It hit me very hard, almost head-on. The car reversed and left me lying on the ground. I was on my back. I stood up. I was in a lot of pain.

“I went to stand on my right leg. It didn’t feel like I had a right leg. When I looked down it was just flapping around. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Then the car came at me again. I fell on my back again.

"It just came over the top of me. It ran over my chest. I thought it was going to go over my head. I think it went back across my legs. It went over me three times - over, back and over again.”

The car drove off and his friend Alan Ager arrived, followed by the police and an ambulance. Paramedic Mark Lawrence praised a police officer for administering oxygen at the scene, saying it increased the victim’s chances of survival.

Mr Lawrence said he became concerned about Mr Thomas on the way to the Queen Mary Hospital in Sidcup as he feared he was going to lose consciousness.

Mr Thomas, from south east London, suffered multiple injuries, the worst of all was a badly broken leg. Skin was ripped from his leg and he had to have painful grafts and plastic surgery.

Police recovered fragments of the car’s number plate and discovered that the Granada had been sold to Conway three weeks before. He was not arrested until December 19, when he gave a false name and had covered a distinctive barcode tattoo with another tattoo.

Conway, married with an 18-month-old child, denied attempted murder and an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Admitting he was drunk, he claimed that he ran over Mr Thomas by accident after losing control of the car. “It was in no way intentional,” he said.

John O’Higgins, defending, said Conway had been convicted of a grave crime. “The short point is that nothing can be said in mitigation so far as the facts are concerned,” he said.

Conway stared straight ahead as Judge Andrew Patience, QC, told him that he jury had convicted him on the “clearest possible evidence”.

He said: “The only thing that can be drawn to my attention is the fact that you are young. I am going to pass a very long sentence upon you now.”