Driver who left dog walker with a broken back and legs is jailed

Violent driver who deliberately mowed down dog walker and left him with a broken back and legs in horror road-rage attack is jailed

• Jake Johnson-Atcherley, 21, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for car attack
• Antony Ford was driven into in July last year and is still said to be recovering

A violent driver who deliberately ran down a dog walker, leaving his victim with broken legs and a broken back after a row with the man’s partner, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Jake Johnson-Atcherley, 21, of Watson Close, Upavon, was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court today for two counts of assault causing grievous bodily harm and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Antony Ford was driven into on Station Road, Devizes, on 27 July – leaving him fighting for his life in hospital – and is said to be still in recovery almost a year on.

Johnson-Atcherley rammed his car into Mr Ford, following a verbal altercation with his partner, driving his vehicle with three passengers in a loop around the Station Road car park before driving it directly at him.

Mr Ford was thrown into the air on impact resulting in a broken spine, severe breaks to his legs and arm and a large laceration to his head, among other injuries.

Jake Johnson-Atcherley, 21, of Watson Close, Upavon, was sentenced to 16 years in jail at Winchester Crown Court

Johnson-Atcherley drove off at speed with a shattered windscreen and damage to his vehicle, leaving Mr Ford in a critical condition.

The father-of-two received first aid from members of the public before being airlifted to Southmead Hospital where he was stabilised.

He continues to recover and is working hard with his ongoing rehabilitation.

Johnson-Atcherley, of Watson Close, Upavon, was sentenced to 16 years in prison at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday for assault causing grievous bodily harm.

The court heard that in an attempt to evade police, Johnson-Atcherley hid at a friend’s house overnight, but was arrested the following day.

He was charged and remanded, but released from court the following day.

Johnson-Atcherley committed the offence whilst under investigation for an assault at The Kebab House in Devizes, Wilts., where he punched a man multiple times in the face, wrongly believing he had insulted a friend.

The victim suffered a dislocated arm and a severe break to his jaw.

In March this year, whilst on bail for the Station Road incident, Johnson-Atcherley arranged to meet a friend in Marlborough where he enticed him out of sight of CCTV cameras and punched him repeatedly to the face over a £20 debt.

Antony Ford was driven into on Station Road, Devizes, on 27 July – leaving him fighting for his life in hospital – and is said to be still in recovery almost a year on

Johnson-Atcherley was also sentenced to eight months for a second count of assault causing grievous bodily harm, to run concurrently, and four months for assault causing actual bodily harm, to also run concurrently.

Det Con Simon Rogers said: ‘Johnson-Atcherley is an extremely violent offender who has shown absolutely no remorse for his actions.

‘In deliberately driving his vehicle at his victim, he left him with life changing injuries.

‘The victim has shown incredible braveness and determination to initially survive the attack and to continue with his rehabilitation, nearly a year on from the incident.

‘In the moments immediately after this incident, several members of the public were quick to provide the man with first aid in the most traumatic of circumstances until paramedics arrived on scene and he was airlifted to hospital.

‘Their quick-thinking inevitably saved his life.

‘All three of these incidents were incredibly frightening for the victims and I would like to thank them, and the witnesses, for their support with our enquiries to speak up and ensure this violent offender could be put before the courts.’

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