Gravesend Drug Dealer Jailed After Horrific Hit-and-Run
A Gravesend drug dealer has been locked up for four and a half years after a shocking hit-and-run that left a teenage girl seriously injured. Paul Howes, 48, crashed into three cars before ploughing into a pedestrian, then fled the scene. Police later found him carrying class A drugs.
Chaos on Old Road East
At around 10pm on 14 June 2019, Howes was driving down Old Road East when he smashed into a parked car. Seconds later, his vehicle mounted the pavement and struck a teenage girl walking nearby. The impact hurled her into a garden wall, causing serious injuries.
Instead of stopping, Howes kept driving along the pavement, crashing into another vehicle and pushing it into a garden fence. Witnesses quickly identified his car and him as the driver.
Drunk, Abusive and Armed With Drugs
Police breath tests revealed Howes was five to six times over the legal alcohol limit. He was arrested but refused further tests. While in custody, he racially abused an officer and was found with cocaine.
A car search uncovered 10 wraps of cocaine and cannabis, suggesting he was dealing drugs as well.
Harsh Sentence for Dangerous Driver
Howes pleaded guilty to multiple charges including dangerous driving causing serious injury, failing to stop, racist abuse, and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
On 4 February 2020, Woolwich Crown Court sentenced him to four years and six months behind bars. He is banned from driving for three years after release and must pass an extended driving test to get back on the road.
“This was one of the most serious cases the court had seen for causing serious injury by dangerous driving,” said PS Chris Wade from the Serious Crash Investigation Unit. “Not only did Howes drive on the pavement, he failed to stop after hitting a pedestrian. It’s lucky the victim wasn’t killed and no one else was hurt.”
