A motorcyclist who suffered life-changing injuries feels he is “stuck in limbo” after the BMW driver who knocked him down skipped a court date to be sentenced.

Leon Zanre had to learn to walk again following the crash on the A257 in Bramling, near Canterbury 10 months ago.

Farm worker Krasimir Kardashlakov, 32, was at the wheel of his friend’s black BMW X5 turning onto the road when he collided with Mr Zanre shortly before 6pm on July 11.

Kardashlakov was not insured to drive the car and Mr Zanre suffered a punctured left lung and injuries to his pelvis, spine, knee and shoulder and was hospitalised for five weeks.

Bulgarian national Kardashlakov, a seasonal labourer, was charged with causing serious injury by careless driving and driving without insurance after the smash in Wingham Road by the junction with Cherville Lane.

After admitting both offences in January, Kardashlakov was due to be sentenced last month but failed to attend court.

Authorities believe he fled to Bulgaria and plans to extradite him were discussed, something Mr Zanre feels is dragging out his pain.

The 35-year-old dental technician from Sandwich said: “I hoped that the sentencing would be over now and I would be able to start moving forward with my life, but I’m stuck in limbo.

“I’m disappointed, upset and devastated at the current situation.

“The driver has left me with life-changing injuries but hasn’t been punished for it.

“What happened has affected my family massively too.

“The driver didn’t have the decency to turn up and face the consequences of what he’s done to me.

“All I can hope for now is that he’ll be found and brought to justice.”

Peter Lorence, specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who has been representing Mr Zanre, said: “Leon suffered an array of catastrophic injuries through no fault of his own.

“While it’s been nine months since the crash, Leon continues to live with its impact.

“He’s made good progress in his recovery but still faces a long journey to overcome these the best he can.

“Through our work, we come across too many people left to suffer the consequences of careless driving. It’s therefore very disappointing that the driver is believed to have fled the country before he could be sentenced, which has left Leon feeling like he can’t yet move on from what happened.

“A moment’s inattention can be life-changing, as demonstrated by the footage. I hope that it highlights the stark, devastating consequences of failing to take care on our roads and why road safety is so important.”

After the initial hearing, Mr Zanre spoke out about the "devastating" impact the crash has had on his life.

He described learning to walk again after suffering pelvic and spinal fractures, as well as internal bleeding, and had to be cared for by his wife Zoe after the crash.

Medics have advised him it could be another two or three years until he can walk properly again.

The court also heard Kardashlakov, who gave an address of New Place Farm in Wingham Lane, Ickham, suffered a lapse in concentration following a day at work and was said to have waited correctly at the junction for one vehicle to pass, but then pushed out into the road, causing the crash.

District Judge Justin Barron was told Kardashlakov had been tired and exhausted from working long hours in the heat on the farm, having started that day between 5am and 6am.

He was also told the visibility at the junction was not the best as there were overgrown hedges, obscuring his vision of the route.

Authorties confirmed to KentOnline the process of having Kardashlakov returned to face court is ongoing but there is no court date currently scheduled.