Driver jailed for 35 months after injuring schoolboy
Lee Nelhams lost control of his car in Kingston-upon-Thames, hitting a child at a bus stop.
Incident → evidence → outcomeLee Nelhams, 34, has been jailed for 35 months after losing control of his car and hitting a schoolboy at a bus stop in Kingston-upon-Thames. The incident, which occurred in 2022, left the child with life-changing injuries including a bleed on the brain, a fractured skull, and loss of vision.
Collision details
Kingston Crown Court heard that Nelhams was overtaking other vehicles on Tudor Drive when he lost control of his Vauxhall Corsa. The car then collided with a bus stop, striking the unnamed child. The boy, who was two years away from his GCSEs, was taken to hospital where he was placed in a coma for two weeks and remained an inpatient for nearly three months. Medical professionals identified a significant brain bleed, a fractured eye socket leading to vision loss, and a leg injury.
A statement from the boy's father, read in court, detailed the severe impact of the injuries. The child experienced extreme weight loss, hallucinations, and violent fits during his hospital stay. He subsequently fell a year behind in his education and suffered from significant anxiety, with visible head scars and the temporary use of an eye patch.
Nelhams initially pleaded not guilty to the charge but changed his plea to guilty in June of this year. His defence barrister stated the crash was a result of a 'singular moment of loss of judgement' and that Nelhams had immediately called emergency services. The barrister also noted Nelhams had a prior history of good character and had been driving for a works van for two and a half years before the incident.
Sentencing and consequences
Judge Rajeev Shetty sentenced Nelhams to 35 months imprisonment, stating the sentence was not taken lightly. He commented that the defendant's dangerous driving had caused irreparable damage to a wholly innocent victim, affecting his childhood, prospects, and life. The judge added that the public must be assured that appropriate punishment is delivered for dangerous driving that results in such severe trauma.
In addition to the custodial sentence, Nelhams was disqualified from driving for four years, with an extended period of 17 and a half months to commence after his release. The schoolboy's future education is being planned with consideration for his ongoing recovery, with options for supported university study or living at home.
Questions this report answers
01Why was Lee Nelhams jailed?
Lee Nelhams was jailed for 35 months after admitting to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He lost control of his car in Kingston-upon-Thames in 2022 and collided with a schoolboy waiting at a bus stop, causing life-changing injuries.
02What injuries did the schoolboy sustain?
The schoolboy suffered a bleed on the brain, a fractured skull, a leg injury, and a fractured eye socket resulting in loss of vision. He spent months in hospital, experienced severe anxiety, and fell behind in his education due to the trauma.
03What was the sentence for Lee Nelhams?
Lee Nelhams received a 35-month prison sentence and was disqualified from driving for four years. He will be eligible for release on licence after serving half of his sentence.
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