Hit-and-run victim criticises uninsured driver's 'appalling' sentence

A man who had his leg amputated after a hit-and-run has criticised the "appalling" sentence given to the motorist - as he backed a campaign to increase the "shoddy" penalties for uninsured drivers.

Ieuan Parry also suffered a fractured skull when he was struck by the driver of a white Mitsubishi fleeing police at high speed near Ebbw Vale, South Wales. The uninsured motorist fled the scene and Mr Parry - who had been working on the roadside of a closed lane - was left with devastating injuries and the "agony" of "phantom pain" following his amputation.

The driver - who had reached speeds of more than 130mph during the police chase - later tried to blame the incident on his ex-partner by calling 999 and falsely claiming she had stolen his vehicle, according to reports. He was jailed for three years and four months in February 2024 after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.

It is understood he has since been released from prison. Mr Parry - who asked Sky News not to name the motorist - said he felt "extremely frustrated" and "angry" about the driver's actions and believes he should have received a longer prison term.

"I think it's appalling to be honest with you," the 27-year-old told Sky News. "(The sentence was) not harsh enough for the seriousness of his crime." The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), which has been supporting Mr Parry, is now calling for fines for uninsured drivers to increase from £300 to £1,200, saying the current penalty "simply isn't enough of a deterrent".

Mr Parry was 24 when he was struck by the car while working by the A465 Heads of the Valleys road near Ebbw Vale in November 2021. Describing the incident, he said he was using a leaf blower on the roadside shortly after noon when he heard a "droning noise" and looked up to see the vehicle coming towards him at speed.

"Before I had chance to do anything or move, I was struck - hit off my feet," he said. "That's where the nightmare started." 'Excruciating pain' Mr Parry suffered a fractured skull and a badly broken left leg that later had to be amputated below the knee.

"(I was in) excruciating pain on the side of the road," he said. "I remember asking: 'Is my leg okay? Will I lose my leg?'" Despite the severity of his injuries, Mr Parry tried to reach for his phone to contact work colleagues while lying in the road.

"I was more concerned about how it had happened - because I was in a coned-off lane," he said. "I wondered, 'would there be more cars coming behind this car?'" Describing his feelings towards the driver, Mr Parry said: "Obviously extremely frustrated… angry.

"God forbid it never happens, but if I ever found myself in a situation where I'd injured someone, the last thing I'd be doing is thinking about fleeing from the accident." Leg amputated Mr Parry spent 17 days at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where he underwent surgery on five occasions. Recalling the moment he was told his leg would have to be amputated, he said: "A lot of things went through my mind in terms of work, the relationship with my girlfriend… how everything in my life that I've worked towards thus far was going to be flipped round on its head.

"I did find that very difficult to deal with… losing your independence, not being able to go to the toilet on your own, not being able to wash yourself, not being able to do even the simplest of tasks." Since the amputation, Mr Parry said he has dealt with the "weird sensation" of "phantom pain.