Carjack thug gets 11 years

JAILED . . . Paul Anthony Moore

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A CARJACKER who wrecked an Oldham pensioner's life by running her over as she tried to stop him stealing her vehicle, has been jailed for a total of 11 years.

Dorothy Cooper (78), who had been active and independent up until the incident in April, has been left facing spending the rest of her days in a wheelchair in constant pain.

Drug addict Paul Anthony Moore (45) admitted deliberately targeting her as she was about to drive away from a car park, off Sandy Lane in Royton, in order to get easy cash.

Sentencing him at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Andrew Lowcock told him: "This was selfish and cruel offending and a selfish desire to get drugs.

"Whatever sentence I give you would not be enough to give this lady her life back."

The court had been told that Moore had persuaded Ms Cooper to get out of her white Hyundai i10, telling her there was smoke and flames coming from the rear.

She was reluctant to do so, but eventually agreed because he was so insistent.

As she stood at the rear of the vehicle looking for anything amiss, he got into the driver's seat, started revving the engine, and then began reversing.

Justin Hayhoe, prosecuting, said she told him to get out, and then shouted that he was going to run her over, but he took no notice.

She fell to the ground and was rolled "like a rag doll" as the wheels of the vehicle went over her legs and pelvic area. Ms Cooper felt horrendous pain and feared she was going to be left to die on the car park, he said. The court was told that shocked passers-by rushed to her aid and she was taken to hospital where she needed two major operations to repair a shattered hip, and damage to her bladder.

Her grandson said in a statement to police that she had been in a state of total despair, suffering unbearable pain, and at one point said she had wanted to be put out of her misery.

She was said to be terrified of a life filled with pain and being unable to do anything for herself.

She told police officers that she would rather have willingly given Moore her car, than suffer the injuries she received when he took it from her.

The court was told that Ms Cooper, who was only recently discharged into residential care, was likely to suffer pain and mobility problems for the rest of her life.

Moore, of no fixed address, and known in the area as "Roger the Dodger" has had long-standing problems with drugs since the age of 14.

He has a lengthy criminal record for offences including burglary and aggravated vehicle taking.

Paul Bryning, defending, said his client had at one time been spending £500 a day on drugs as his life spiralled out of control.

He said Moore had not appreciated at first the the extent of his victim's injuries and what she had gone through.

The court was told however that on the day of his arrest, he had told a friend he was going to be "put away for years" for what he had done.

Moore was jailed for 11 years for grievous wounding with intent, five years concurrent for robbery, and 12 months concurrent for dangerous driving. He had entered guilty pleas on all counts.

He was also disqualified from driving for five-and-a-half years.