A 27-year-old woman who drove off to withdraw cash so she could return to a nail bar to complete her treatment, sparked a bizarre series of events which resulted in her driving her Citroen C4 car into three people who tried to stop her.
Doreen Smith had just paid for treatment on her eyelashes when she asked for her nails to be done too in the nail bar in London Road, North Cheam, on Friday, 15 May 2015. Part-way through her treatment, she was asked to pay £25. Smith told staff she didn’t have the money and promptly left the shop telling staff she was going to a cashpoint at Sainsbury’s.
A 27-year-old woman who drove off to withdraw cash so she could return to a nail bar to complete her treatment, sparked a bizarre series of events which resulted in her driving her Citroen C4 car into three people who tried to stop her.
Doreen Smith had just paid for treatment on her eyelashes when she asked for her nails to be done too in the nail bar in London Road, North Cheam, on Friday, 15 May 2015. Part-way through her treatment, she was asked to pay £25. Smith told staff she didn’t have the money and promptly left the shop telling staff she was going to a cashpoint at Sainsbury’s.
But instead of heading towards Sainsbury’s, Smith walked towards her car in nearby McDonald’s car park.
This led the members of staff to believe Smith was leaving without payment - so they followed her explaining that she needed to leave something like a driving licence behind as proof of her intention to return.
One of the shop staff - a 26-year-old man - stood in front of Smith’s car but as she pulled away, he found himself being carried on her bonnet. He was still on the bonnet when Smith turned into London Road and another shop worker - a woman aged 33 - who had been holding on to her wing mirror, fell into the road.
Seeing what was happening members of the public started calling police believing that a car was being stolen or ‘car-jacked’. One member of the public even followed the vehicle and relayed information to the police control room.
The male shop worker was carried on the bonnet a distance of 50 metres before the vehicle pulled into a lay-by near the nail bar. A 42-year-old man who had been filming what was happening stood in front of Smith’s vehicle to get her to stop but she drove forwards and hit him.
The victims only sustained minor injuries.
At Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 26 November, Smith (27.04.88), of Sherwood Way, Epsom, was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to driving a vehicle dangerously and failing to stop after a road accident.
Smith was ordered to be under a home curfew for three months from 8pm-6am and carry out unpaid work for 200 hours within the next 12 months. In addition, she was ordered to pay £500 compensation to each of her three victims; £200 Crown Prosecution costs; a criminal courts charge of £180 and a victim surcharge of £80. She was disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence for three years.
Officer in charge of the investigation, PC Jodie Freeman, of Sutton Police station, commented: “It was fortunate that no one was seriously hurt by this driver’s actions which amounted to dangerous driving. These three victims have received the justice they deserve.”
This led the members of staff to believe Smith was leaving without payment - so they followed her explaining that she needed to leave something like a driving licence behind as proof of her intention to return.
One of the shop staff - a 26-year-old man - stood in front of Smith’s car but as she pulled away, he found himself being carried on her bonnet. He was still on the bonnet when Smith turned into London Road and another shop worker - a woman aged 33 - who had been holding on to her wing mirror, fell into the road.
Seeing what was happening members of the public started calling police believing that a car was being stolen or ‘car-jacked’. One member of the public even followed the vehicle and relayed information to the police control room.
The male shop worker was carried on the bonnet a distance of 50 metres before the vehicle pulled into a lay-by near the nail bar. A 42-year-old man who had been filming what was happening stood in front of Smith’s vehicle to get her to stop but she drove forwards and hit him.
The victims only sustained minor injuries.
At Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 26 November, Smith (27.04.88), of Sherwood Way, Epsom, was sentenced to 24 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to driving a vehicle dangerously and failing to stop after a road accident.
Smith was ordered to be under a home curfew for three months from 8pm-6am and carry out unpaid work for 200 hours within the next 12 months. In addition, she was ordered to pay £500 compensation to each of her three victims; £200 Crown Prosecution costs; a criminal courts charge of £180 and a victim surcharge of £80. She was disqualified for holding or obtaining a driving licence for three years.
Officer in charge of the investigation, PC Jodie Freeman, of Sutton Police station, commented: “It was fortunate that no one was seriously hurt by this driver’s actions which amounted to dangerous driving. These three victims have received the justice they deserve.”