A MOTORIST has admitted deliberately running over a pedestrian on a residential city street, leaving the victim with serious injuries.

Daniel James English, 31, was told he faced a prison sentence after driving deliberately at Darren Read in an Audi A4 on Ullswater Road in broad daylight on the afternoon of January 13 this year.

Mr Read, then aged 46, was airlifted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary for treatment to injuries which included multiple skull fractures and a fracture to his upper arm.

English had denied causing Mr Read grievous bodily harm with intent.

But yesterday at Carlisle Crown Court – on the day he was due to go on trial – English changed his plea to guilty following talks between the prosecution and defence to resolve the case.

The court heard his admission was based on there being “a lack of premeditation and a degree of provocation” before the incident.

Prosecutor Joseph Allman gave the judge, Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC, an update on Mr Read’s condition.

“He had recent surgery on his shoulder and it will be an eight to 12-month wait before there will then be some surgery on the arm,” said Mr Allman.

“The pain is constant and, until that further surgery, it is unknown how bad the pain management will be.

“He still has some pain in his eye from the fracture, and is still experiencing double vision but that is slowly improving.

“There still would be probably some work to be done to rebuild his jaw before they consider what to do about his teeth.”

Mr Allman added: “He still suffers from nightmares most nights and isn’t leaving the house.

“He only allows two friends in the house but otherwise sees nobody.

“It is still too early to say whether he will ever be pain-free.”

English – remanded in custody – is due to be sentenced on Thursday along with 33-year-old Carlisle woman Claire Porter, of Greta Avenue. She admits assisting an offender having helped him to evade police on January 13.

Recorder Clarke adjourned the case for Porter to be present, and to give Mr Read a chance to provide an impact statement and attend court, the judge saying of the victim: “He is very much uppermost in my mind.”

“You appreciate,” he told told English, “that you have pleaded guilty to an extremely serious offence, the only penalty for which can be a custodial sentence.

“I will decide what is the most appropriate and just sentence in this case.”