05 June 2023 , 14:49
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A hit-and-run driver who mowed down a schoolgirl and left her with horrific injuries has avoided jail.
Farhan Musaji, 26, jumped a red light at a junction in his Audi A4 and ploughed into Layla Shepard, 10, as she was cycling home.
As the youngster lay severely injured at the roadside in Deane, near Bolton, Greater Manchester in October 2021, Musaji drove on down the road before abandoning his car and heading home.
Musaji faced up to two years in jail but was only ordered to pay £900 damages at Bolton Crown Court.
Layla Shepherd suffered horrific injuries after she was hit while cycling on her bike (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
Farhan Musaji been ordered to pay a 10-year-old girl £900 in damages (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)Following the incident around 6:49pm on Saturday the 16th of October 2021, the pharmacist was arrested.
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But the impact left Layla with a fractured cheekbone, a broken nose and she needed surgery on her leg as the skin above her knee had been badly damaged by the impact.
In a statement, the youngster said: "I feel like the whole incident has left me overwhelmed. I have recently seen a psychiatrist, who has diagnosed me with PTSD. I have not ridden my bike since the incident and I regularly suffer flashbacks, which keep me up at night."
At Bolton Crown Court Musaji faced up to two years jail after he admitted causing serious injury by careless driving and failing to stop after an accident.
But he was sentenced to a 12-month community order after a judge accepted character references describing him as a "hard-working and honest" man.
In prosecuting, Miss Anna Bond said: "At around 6:49pm on Saturday the 16th of October 2021, Layla Shepard, who was 10 at the time, was riding on her pushbike along Wigan Road towards a crossing junction. She arrived at the puffin crossing and started the ride over to the other side of the junction.
"A Mr Downey had just emerged from a chip shop nearby and went to the traffic lights on the other side of the crossing. He saw the defendant's car come through the red lights at speed and hit Layla off her bike. Layla hit the windscreen of the car and flew in the air before landing a short distance down the road going towards Wigan town centre.
"Instead of stopping, the defendant drove on and abandoned the car a short time after. The police later discovered there was no registration plate on the car.
"Layla had no lights on her bike and was not wearing any hi-vis clothing. However, there was street lighting and the incident happened alongside a parade of shops.
"As a result of the collision, Layla was left with significant swelling and a fracture to her knee, which required a brace. She was later discharged from the hospital on the 22nd of October.
"Greater Manchester Police received a radio transmission about the collision and attended the defendant's address. The defendant rang his father to tell him about the collision and he then confirmed this to the officers when they arrived. However, the defendant was not present at the address at that time.
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"On the 17th of October, the defendant and his father attended Bolton police station for an interview. He later returned on the 20th of October with his solicitor."
Musaji has no previous convictions or points on his driving licence.
However, he did have one previous caution for cannabis possession in 2022.
Peter Malone, defending, said: "I do not stress this enough, the remorse Mr Musaji feels and his regret for coming before you today.
"This whole case is unfortunate, and he realises he is wholly to blame for it. He just did not see that individual when he was driving. What happened next was sheer panic, and he did drive off and went home to his father where they both contacted the police.
"There has been no repetition of this kind of behaviour since, he has kept out of trouble. He has not driven since the incident and now relies on public transport to get to the pharmacy where he works. He is a pharmacy technician, meaning he assists the lead pharmacist to gather medication and discussing medication with customers.
"Since he was 16 he has been working his way up with this pharmacy in Bolton. He sends his sincerest apology to Layla and her family and hopes she can forgive him."
Musaji, of Evesham Close, Bolton, was initially charged with causing injury by dangerous driving but this charge was eventually amended to careless driving. He was also banned from driving for a year and must complete 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was further fined £400 and ordered to pay £300 in costs.
In sentencing, Judge Elliot Knopf told him: "Rather than turning back and seeking to provide assistance and comfort to the girl with whom you had collided and who had been injured significantly by your actions, you ran off."
The judge also added: "You're a hard-working young man as far as I can tell. You have worked your way up over a period of nine years and people speak highly of your ability and honesty."