Speeding driver hit roadside worker who had to have leg amputated

A speeding driver in a police chase hit a roadside worker who had to have his leg amputated as a result of the collision. The driver later called the police and falsely reported his car had been stolen by his ex-partner.

Anthony Tregonning, 39, refused to stop for police while driving his uninsured white Mitsubishi on the eastbound carriageway of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road near Rhymney on November 22, 2021. Police were required to reach speeds of 131mph in order to catch up with the defendant who weaved in and out of other cars.

A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard there were cones in the road where work was being carried out. But Tregonning failed to heed this and drove into the closed lane and struck Ieuan Parry who was working in the road and was wearing an orange fluorescent coat.

Mr Parry suffered a broken leg and a fractured skull when he was hit and was discovered in the road by police who were chasing the defendant. Prosecutor Peter Donnison said the victim spent 17 days in hospital and after initially being told there was a good chance his left leg could be repaired the damage was worse than expected and the leg was amputated from the knee down.

Describing the collision Mr Parry said he was blowing grass on a verge with cones laid out in the road to protect him. He looked up and saw a white Mitsubishi driving towards him and was spun upon impact. The victim looked down and saw his leg had been broken.

Following the collision Tregonning continued on driving and at 1.39pm he made a 999 call to South Wales Police in which he reported the Mitsubishi had been stolen from his driveway. He claimed he had received a call saying his car had been seen "flying" down the A465. The defendant said he was going through a bad break-up with his ex-partner whom he claimed had threatened to take the car, which he said was worth £40,000.

He made a second call 25 minutes later in which he confirmed the car was gone and his front door was open. Tregonning claimed he had called his ex-partner who he said had "laughed" down the phone and said: "Where's the car?". Officers attended the defendant's home in Merthyr Tydfil where house-to-house inquiries were carried out. They spoke to a neighbour who said she saw Tregonning driving the vehicle at 11.50am and provided Ring doorbell footage which confirmed this.

Tregonning, of Llwyn Berry, Georgetown, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. The court heard he had no previous convictions.

In a victim personal statement read to the court Mr Parry said he was an active person and a workaholic. Prior to the collision he had a dream of starting his own business but that had been taken away as a result of the collision. He said: "I had a full leg amputation below my left knee and reconstructive surgery on my knee. I had a fractured skull which was treated with stitches.

"Every day I think about how my dream has been taken away and I know I must live a different way of life. I was an independent person and enjoyed doing basic day-to-day things around the house like cooking, DIY, and gardening but I have to sit back and watch people do it for me...

"I am grateful for the strong support from my family and partner but they have had to adapt to life and my partner has turned into a full-time carer which makes me feel like a burden. It's been a tough few years for the whole family." Mr Parry said he has returned to work but he still suffers from dreams and flashbacks about the incident and struggles to understand why it happened.

He added: "I was nervous how the wound was going to be with the prosthetic leg attached. I suffer with phantom pains and depression. I am now working full-time and have a new role. A couple of times I have been stood on the road and it feels uncomfortable. I don't trust other road users and crossing the road can leave me nervous and cautious. I have been told my leg must be recast every five years. It will continue to affect me for the rest of my life."

In mitigation Jeffrey Jones said the defendant repents for what he has done and described the offence as "out of character". He said his client was the primary carer for his mother and also plays a part in caring for his autistic stepson with his new partner.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts said: "[The victim] had the most appalling injuries – by far the worst was his lower left leg having to be amputated... Every aspect of his life – home, work, social life – has been ruined by your stupidity.... No sentence I can pass can make good what you did to Mr Parry."

Tregonning was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment. He was also disqualified from driving for five years and eight months.

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