Dad mowed down teens in 4x4 and reversed over one of them - because they were walking in the road

A businessman who mowed down a group of teenagers with his 4x4 before reversing over one of them after becoming infuriated at them walking in the middle of the road has avoided jail.

Ashley Hulme, a 35 year old father-of-two, lost his cool and drove his Toyota C-HR into four teens aged between 16 and 17 following an argument where he accused them of intentionally obstructing his path as he left a snooker club. One boy was shoved into bushes by the impact, suffering a broken arm, while another sustained bruises when the Toyota reversed into him.

Investigations revealed that one of Hulme's children was present during the incident. When questioned, Hulme, who operates a £500,000 per annum groundwork and excavation business with 15 staff, admitted to episodes of ''irritability'' and an ''inability to control his emotions".

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He is currently seeking psychological treatment for his volatile temper outbursts. At Chester Crown Court, Hulme pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and using threatening behaviour.

He received a two-year suspended sentence, with orders to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £2,000 in compensation to the more seriously injured boy and £500 to the other injured lad. His not guilty pleas to causing GBH and affray were accepted.

'He got out and started hitting them'

The incident occurred on April 21, 2022, after Hulme, from Congleton, Cheshire, had visited Congleton Snooker Club. Prosecutor Philip Clemo stated: ''At approximately 6.25pm, he was seen to leave the club holding a small child, got into his car and drove down Royle Street.

There he came across a group of teenage boys who were 16 and 17 years old. "Some were walking slowly in the road and this clearly annoyed the defendant who got out and started a physical altercation with them.

“He in fact hit one and then drove off when the others intervened. He went back to the snooker club and collected two other men whilst the child was still in his car. He then tracked the boys down to nearby Belgrave Avenue and deliberately drove at the young men.

“He hit two of them and one landed in a bush suffering a broken arm. The defendant reversed back over a second boy who miraculously did not suffer injuries beyond bruising. The victims do not wish to provide a victim personal statement. They have made that perfectly plain to the police. They just want to move on with their lives.”

Hulme was arrested at home on May 27, 2022. In interview he initially feigned a lack of memory but when shown CCTV he accepted it was him in the footage and said he had his son with him. He said he would not have got out of the car for a fight unless he had been provoked.

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In his defence, Hulme's lawyer Mark Connor stated: ''He got out of the car and confronted them and there was a bit of shoving. In fact he fell over when he tried to kick out.

"It is reprehensible behaviour but not the most serious before the court. He is deeply ashamed that he acted in such an impulsive and aggressive way.

"He had a recent diagnosis of ADHD which explains his impulsive behaviour, his irritability and his inability to control his emotions at times, which is really what happened on the occasion. Since then, he has sought to address that by seeing a psychologist.

“He has two very young children aged one and four who rely on him as does his long suffering partner. He wishes me on his behalf to apologise to the boys. Thankfully, although the victims in this case were hurt and distressed by what happened, it could have been worse.''

'You have a short fuse'

Sentencing, Judge Steven Everett told Hulme: “You have a pretty impressive business but you have a short fuse. You lost your temper with these young men, challenged them, and then chased after them in your car with the child inside. How stupid was that?

“Cars can be lethal weapons. If you killed them you may have been sentenced for murder, and I would be sentencing you to life, with perhaps 20 to 25 years to serve. Fortunately for them and fortunately for you, those injuries were not as grave as they might have been.''

“You have got this chance as I think on balance you can prove that you can change. But if you don't, you won't be letting me down, it will be yourself, your family and your employees."