King's Lynn drug-driver suffered 'life-changing' injuries

A Lynn moped rider suffered “life-changing” injuries when he hit a tree after being run off the road by a car which only stopped briefly and has never been traced.

Samuel Rhys Hignell shuffled into Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Monday using a crutch. He had been charged with drug-driving after cannabis was found in his system following the crash on July 23 this year.

Prosecutor Jane Walker said the single-vehicle accident in Wootton Road, Lynn, was witnessed by three people.

“The defendant received medical care at the roadside before going to Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” she added.

A blood test there showed a level of 3.3ug/L of a cannabis derivative. The legal limit is two.

Hignell, of Raby Avenue, pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

In mitigation, Alison Muir said her client had suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the incident.

She added: “It wasn’t as a result of drug use. There was a white BMW that pushed him off the road.

He had nowhere to go and hit the tree.”

Miss Muir told the court the driver said they had a child in the car and couldn’t stop. CCTV had failed to trace it since.

“The person who is responsible for this has got away scot-free,” she added.

“My client had a small amount of cannabis the night before and didn’t think it would still be in his system.”

The court heard Hignell suffered three compound fractures, had a hand “completely rebuilt” and there were pins and rods in his legs. He still attends Addenbrooke's Hospital at Cambridge two or three times a week.

Miss Muir said he didn’t have the strength or balance to continue as a commercial fisherman.

Hignell was disqualified from driving for 12 months, fined £80 and ordered to pay £30 victim surcharge.