Dangerous Sheffield driver used his car as a weapon when he careered into former pro-boxer's wife after road-rage incident

Sheffield Crown Court heard on July 31 how driver Nassar Mohammed, aged 22, of Jubilee Road, Greenland, Sheffield, became annoyed with ex-boxing pro Richard Wenton’s wife, Maria, as she struggled to cross a road in high heels after an evening out and Mohammed reacted to a hand gesture from her husband.

Laura Marshall, prosecuting, said Mohammed got out of his car armed with a baton and was punched by Richard Wenton but Mohammed was captured on CCTV tracking the couple down on Arundel Street, Sheffield, and driving at them and hitting Mrs Wenton causing extreme agony to her feet and ankles.

Judge Peter Kelson QC told Mohammed: “You, in my view, decided you would take your revenge because your victims carried on their way - walking away - down streets to get a taxi and it is no coincidence that you are then shown on the CCTV footage to appear behind them in your vehicle at speed careering onto the pavement and directly into the couple.

"Mr Wenton by sheer remarkable good fortune avoided all injury – physical injury – but Mrs Wenton sustained terrible injuries to her feet and ankles.”

Ms Marshall said Mrs Wenton needed surgery and metal plates in her ankles and she was left wheelchair-bound for six-weeks and was off work as a nurse for five-and-half months. She also needed to go back into hospital after developing an infection.

Both Mr and Mrs Wenton revealed the psychological strain has cost them their marriage and they are now estranged and going through a divorce.

In a victim statement, Mrs Wenton said the incident has taken away her confidence and independence and she added: “I suffered horrendous nightmares several weeks after the incident – jerking awake and shouting.”

Former British Super-Bantamweight champion Mr Wenton, who has struggled to return to work, stated: “The incident has left me in a terrible state. I have had bad dreams and nightmares of my wife lying on the floor.”

Mohammed, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, wounding with intent and to attempted wounding with intent after the incident on July 18, 2019.

Alexander Langhorn, defending, said: “Mohammed got out of the car and immediately said sorry. There was clear regret and remorse for what he had done.”

He added Mohammed had overcome childhood difficulties and had been looking to better himself with education and he is now determined to rehabilitate himself.

Judge Kelson told Mohammed: “These two people were walking away from you. They were vulnerable. You had the biggest weapon of all - a vehicle.”

Mohammed was sentenced to nine years of custody and disqualified from driving for seven years, four-months and two-weeks.

Following the hearing, off-shore worker Mr Wenton said: “He deserves more time in prison than the sentence he has received because he used that car as a weapon.

"I feel it is a soft sentence because the effect on myself and my wife and our marriage has been devastating.”