A motorist in his 80s who reversed his car at speed and pinned a man against a kerb has been sentenced.

Christodulous Yianni, of Lucy Avenue, Folkestone, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court today after he admitted a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and disqualified from driving for life.

The 85-year-old was reversing his automatic Silver Peugeot in The Stade, Folkestone at around 10.50am on Saturday 21 June 2014 when he struck 46-year-old, Ali Dalkilic, who was clearing tables outside his café, The Captains Table.

Despite this, he did not stop reversing and ended up hitting and structurally damaging a nearby house. Mr Dalkilic suffered two broken legs, a broken arm, a fractured right hip, ribs, left shoulder and skull.

He remains bedridden 10 months later.

Senior investigating officer, Det Sgt Scott Lynch of the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: ‘The injuries suffered by Mr Dalkilic have affected his life, business and family.

‘His journey back to health will be a slow one but I would like to thank him for the dignified way he has conducted himself throughout this investigation.

‘This was a poor piece of driving that thankfully did not injure more pedestrians in a busy part of Folkestone.’’

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