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Hit-And-Run Driver Left Man Seriously Injured Only To Later Find Out It Was Her Father-In-Law

Hit-And-Run Driver Left Man Seriously Injured Only To Later Find Out It Was Her Father-In-Law

She then attempted to lie to police before eventually pleading guilty

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A hit-and-run driver who ploughed into an elderly man on a zebra crossing later discovered it was her own father-in-law she had seriously injured.

Fatheha Begum Abedin, 29, was driving through Leicester in February 2018 when she became distracted by her phone and crashed into the 61-year-old.

But instead of stopping and helping the man, she kept on driving. The force of the impact bent the windscreen wipers and shattered the windscreen of the Vauxhall Corsa.

When police questioned Abedin she attempted to lie to cover up her guilt - first telling police she wasn't aware of the collision before changing her story and saying she might have been involved but that she had suffered partial loss of consciousness caused by an asthma attack, meaning she had no memory of the incident.

Leicester Mercury/BPM MEDIA

She also tried to claim the damage sustained to her car was caused after thieves attempted to break in to steal her phone. She then tied to hide the use of her phone at the time of crash saying it often delayed sending messages, but this claim was refuted by an expert.

Prosecutor Joey Kwong said Leicestershire Police found she had deleted 32 incriminating texts from her phone and repaired her windscreen before cops had a chance to examine it.

Abedin, a pharmacy assistant, eventually pleaded guilty to two offences - causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

She appeared in court on Wednesday where she was supported by family members, including her father-in-law.

Sentencing her, Judge Brown said: "You were travelling in your car in the early hours of the evening to collect a takeaway.

"By pure coincidence your father-in-law was crossing in front of your vehicle.

"I'm satisfied you were using your mobile phone.

"You collided with and caused a serious injury to your father-in-law. He went up over your bonnet and struck your windscreen before landing in the road.

"I'm quite satisfied you knew full well there had been an accident. You could not have reached any other conclusion.

"You did not stop. You did not offer to help. Others passing by stopped to help. You carried on."

The judge said a man who had a similar car was initially arrested and held overnight until he was ruled out.

He added: "It's apparent to me that not only did you know you had been involved in a road traffic collision, but went to considerable lengths to cover up your involvement.

"An innocent man was arrested and detained overnight by the police on the basis that he was thought to be the driver.

"Your father-in-law was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary and spent a total of 11 days there.

"He sits in court today and has written a statement in which he expresses - and has always felt, I am sure - his love and affection for you.

"He stresses your importance to him, his wife and his family in your role as carer.

"He has clearly in his own way forgiven you for what happened that night.

Leicester Mercury/BPM MEDIA

"If you are sent into immediate custody I must have regard to the fact that could cause yet more pain to the victim of your crime.

"I have no desire to cause any further pain to him, but I have a public duty today.

"You did just about everything in your power to avoid responsibility for your behaviour until you were forced to make the admissions you have.

"You have pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

"This was a deliberate and sustained attempt to avoid responsibility for what you had done."

Abedin was jailed for six months for the dangerous driving offence and 12 months for perverting the course of justice - the sentences will be served consecutively. She was also banned from driving for two years and nine months.

Featured Image Credit: Leicester Mercury/BPM MEDIA

Topics: UK News, crime