Will the Judge be imposing a sentence like this teenagers? 6 years 3 months prison.
A Norfolk teenager deliberately drove his van into a man walking along a quiet country road in Weybread, leaving his victim with serious injuries.
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Norfolk teen who used car as weapon jailed over attack
A teenager deliberately drove his van into a man walking along a quiet country road, leaving his victim with serious injuries.
Marley Rodgers knew the man he targeted and had been in a long-running dispute with him.
Norwich Crown Court was told the 19-year-old came across the victim by chance as he was driving along the B1116 at Weybread, near the Norfolk-Suffolk border.
Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said as soon as he saw the man Rodgers steered his van directly across the road towards the victim.
He said the victim saw the van coming at him and had no time to "escape the inevitable collision", although he did have "the presence of mind to jump upwards" just before he was struck.
As Rodgers revved the engine again, the victim - who feared he was about to be reversed over - was able to get up and run to a nearby house.
Rodgers drove off, but a passenger in a passing car managed to take his registration number and contact police.
Officers caught up with Rodgers in Long Stratton where they also found his damaged van.
The court heard the victim, who works in a scrap yard, was left with a "life-changing injury" to his elbow.
Mr Jackson said the attack was "in the context of an ongoing dispute" between the pair, stemming from a falling out between Rodgers and the victim's son two months earlier which had seen Rodgers chase him with a knife.
Rodgers, of Lime Tree Avenue, Long Stratton, appeared at court for sentencing on Tuesday after he admitted causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent over the incident on September 6, 2025.
He had already pleaded guilty to separate offences of threatening behaviour, possessing a machete and possession of nitrous oxide on June 13, 2025.
Imposing an extended eight year, three-month sentence - made up of six years and three months custody and two years on licence - Recorder Nicola Fitches said: "When you saw your victim you made a choice. The choice you made to drive at him at speed could've killed him."
"There is no doubt the van was used as a weapon and it's a highly dangerous weapon," she said.
Before Rodgers was sentenced the court heard a statement from the victim who said the injury to his arm has had a "profound" and "life-changing" impact on him.
He has had to reduce his hours at the scrap yard and has also had to give up motocross riding due to his injury.
Rob Pollington, mitigating, said Rodgers made a "horrendously poor decision".
Rodgers was also banned from driving for a total of six years.
He was also made the subject of a restraining order and was banned from contacting the victim directly or indirectly for an indefinite period.
