Two men who deliberately ran over an NHS worker during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic have been jailed for a combined total of more than 14 years. The incident left Katungua Tjitendero, a healthcare worker at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, scarred for life.
The attack occurred as Tjitendero, also known as “K-Dogg,” was walking home from his shift on Monks Park Avenue. He had been listening to music and looking forward to football training later that day. Instead, he was struck by a blue Honda Accord, leaving him with a broken leg, nose, and cheekbone, and a lifelong scar on his face. As the attackers fled, one of them shouted racist abuse at Tjitendero.
Following a four-year investigation, Patrick James, 22, and Phillip Adams, 26, have now been brought to justice. Both men were found guilty of conspiracy to cause intentional grievous bodily harm at Bristol Crown Court. James was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison, while Adams received a six-year sentence. However, Adams failed to appear in court, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Authorities are working with the National Crime Agency to facilitate his extradition from Dubai.
The police investigation also revealed shocking footage from James’ phone showing the Honda Accord being used to deliberately drive onto the pavement and hit another victim, Julian Ford, off his bicycle. The incident occurred in Lawrence Weston, Bristol, ten days before Tjitendero was struck. James filmed the attack, laughing before and after they hit the cyclist. Ford sustained fractured ribs and had air and blood in his chest cavity, leading to a lengthy hospital stay.
Sentencing the pair, Judge Macmillan said: “This was a terrible thing to do to another person, let alone to celebrate it,” adding that Adams “did not have the courage to come to court” for his sentencing.
During the attack, Tjitendero was pinned against a wall, causing part of the wall to collapse. He was rushed to Southmead Hospital, where he and his mother both worked, for emergency treatment.
Speaking outside the court, Tjitendero’s mother, Hivaka, shared her thoughts on the traumatic experience. My son was just walking home as he always did. The next moment, a car deliberately veered towards him, attacking him as a weapon, leaving him no time to react and leaving him seriously injured both physically and mentally. My son has endured a long path on his recovery.”
Hivaka expressed her pride in her son’s strength and resilience, noting that “as a mother, who should always seek to protect and look after her children, I felt so helpless.” She also emphasized the impact of the attack on their family, friends, and community, adding: “We are very mindful that this cowardly attack, during which the worst racist abuse was shouted at Katungua, has impacted on all of us – family, friends, community, city, nation, and beyond.
The family received overwhelming support from the public, including those who helped Tjitendero at the scene and members of the community who provided moral support throughout his recovery. Hivaka added, “We love our lives, we love each other, and we love living in Bristol. We love Bristol’s diversity, its art, its music, its sense of humour and decency, and its people. And we will continue to enjoy our lives in Bristol.”
Detective Superintendent Mike Buck, who led the investigation, commended Tjitendero and Ford for their resilience. “A callous disregard was shown for the victims’ wellbeing, who suffered really significant injuries. They were deliberately driven at in horrendous attacks, and it’s absolutely right that both men have today been handed lengthy prison sentences for their actions.
“The support of both Mr. Ford and Mr. Tjitendero and his family over the past four years has been invaluable, and I’d again like to thank them for their patience while the investigation progressed,” Buck concluded.
