THE getaway driver for a burglary gang which struck in Brighouse has been jailed for four-and- a-half years after a workman was crushed by their van.

Derek Wilson and his colleagues had chased after the vehicle as the gang tried to leave Key Sales Limited in Birds Royd Mill, Brighouse, last December.

But the driver, 27-year-old James Lowther, of Dulverton Close, Beeston, Leeds, stopped the van and suddenly reversed towards their pursuers crushing the helpless 53-year-old against another stationary vehicle.

Recorder Amanda Rippon was yesterday shown the horrific CCTV footage of the moment the van trapped Mr Wilson before it drove away leaving him in excruciating pain on the ground.

Recorder Rippon said Mr Wilson and the other staff had been trying to stop the van lawfully, but Lowther had deliberately reversed it at them in temper and anger.

She said the collision with Mr Wilson must have been horrific to witness and told Lowther that he had used the large van as a weapon.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Mr Wilson, a married man, of Greetland, had suffered various injuries including a fractured wrist and an open dislocation of the knee.

He spent 16 days in hospital undergoing three operations and is still off work six months on.

In a victim impact statement Mr Wilson said he now felt permanently disabled and the court heard that he faced further possible surgery and may never regain full movement in his wrist or knee as a result of his injuries.

Lowther, a married man with previous convictions including robbery, pleaded guilty to causing Mr Wilson grievous bodily harm with intent and admitted two burglary offences.

The court heard that Lowther and his three accomplices had gone out that day looking to burgle commercial premises.

Having failed to break into another company in Brighouse they went into Key Sales Limited where they tried to steal a television.

Although a member of staff had managed to break one of the van’s windows as the gang fled, the vehicle was heading out of the yard when Lowther stopped it.

"I’ve watched the DVD of this CCTV and it is horrific to watch," Recorder Rippon told Lowther.

"You had basically made good your escape. There was absolutely nothing impeding you from driving out of that yard and I take the view that in temper and anger you deliberately put the vehicle into reverse, driving at members of staff and trapping Mr Wilson between your van and another van."

Barrister Ken Green, for Lowther, said his client was genuinely shocked when he saw the CCTV footage and wanted to publicly and genuinely apologise to Mr Wilson.

He said Lowther had not gone out that day intending to harm anyone.

Mr Green conceded that the victim’s injuries were serious, but he submitted that it was fortunate for his client that they were not more serious or even fatal.