A maniac driver who rammed his car into a woman and pinned her against the wall in an horrific attack after an argument has been jailed for 12 years.
Kirk Starzyk, 55, deliberately drove his vehicle straight at Deborah Nicholson after a disagreement in the street, leaving her needing skin grafts and in constant pain.
Prosecutors said father-of-two Starzyk had used his Peugeot car ‘as a weapon’ in the incident in Scunthorpe.
Starzyk denied wounding Miss Nicholson with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on September 1 but was convicted by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court.
Kirk Starzyk’s car drives at Deborah Nicholson as she runs down the street in Scunthorpe
He admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for 12 years.
CCTV shows Miss Nicholson running along the street and putting her arms out to the side as Starzyk reverses his red car.
The Peugeot can then be seen pointed towards Miss Nicholson and driving straight at her, pinning her against a wall and injuring her, before driving off.
Passers-by can be seen chasing after the Peugeot and rushing to the victim’s aid.
Miss Nicholson was taken to Scunthorpe General Hospital and later needed operations and skin grafts for severe leg injuries.
Starzyk was arrested by Humberside Police at his then home in Detuyll Street, Scunthorpe. The car had been parked in another area and its number plates ripped off.
The car drives straight at Miss Nicholson and pins her against the wall during the ‘brutal’ attack
The car reverses and drives off leaving Miss Nicholson on the floor trying to turn around
He later claimed that Miss Nicholson slapped and pushed him, knocked his glasses off, pulled his coat over his head and stole something from him. He claimed that he wanted to get it back.
Starzyk, of Main Street in Bonby, later said he only wanted to scare her and admitted driving into the pavement but claimed he did not hear her scream and that he did not feel there was any contact between her and the car.
Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, said Starzyk and Miss Nicholson were both in the Berkeley Street area of Scunthorpe to buy drugs.
Mr Evans said: ‘His intention was to use the motor vehicle he was driving as a weapon, intending to cause really serious injury to her.
‘In a fit of pique, utter anger, he got into that car and pursued her with one aim in mind.
‘He had full control of his thoughts, full control of his actions and his intention was as clear as day, driving straight at her, pinning her against a wall and injuring her.’
A passer-by tries to chase the car around the corner but he comes back to help Miss Nicholson
Miss Nicholson told the court that she and a friend were at the scene to buy crack cocaine and, when there was not any immediately available, sat waiting in an alleyway.
Starzyk was there to buy cocaine but they did not know each other.
The victim claimed that Starzyk ‘freaked her out’ and that he picked up a brick. She denied stealing from him, knocking his glasses off or throwing bricks at his bonnet.
Starzyk, a plasterer, had convictions for 32 previous offences, including being jailed for two years and three months in 1995 for causing grievous bodily harm and for assault.
Defence barrister Craig Lowe said: ‘He didn’t intend to cause her really serious harm.
‘He wanted to get his property back. He was trying to cut her off. He didn’t, he says, deliberately run her over.’
Starzyk told the court: ‘I had no idea that I had hit her. I never meant to hit her. I am disgusted with myself for what I have done.’
Starzyk, pictured, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for 12-years. He will also be banned from driving for three years after his release from prison
Judge Mark Bury told Starzyk: ‘You knew exactly what you were doing. You intended to knock her over and intended to cause her really serious bodily harm.
‘There are now very angry scars. She is in pain every day. This was truly horrible behaviour by you.’
Starzyk will be banned from driving for three years after his release from prison.
In a statement from the Crown Prosecution Service, Mr Evans said: ‘This was a brutal crime. Starzyk used his vehicle as a weapon, crushing his victim against a wall and causing her extensive, horrific injuries.
‘From the point of arrest, Starzyk consistently attempted to minimise his actions and deny that what he had done was intentional, excuses that were rejected by the jury.
‘The victim’s injuries are life-changing. More operations may well be required and she is likely to be on painkillers for the rest of her life.’
PC Daniel Hunt, the Humberside Police officer in the case, said: ‘This was a truly horrific incident resulting in serious lasting injuries to the victim.
‘Kirk Starzyk showed no regard for the victim of this crime either during or after the incident and the CCTV was some of the most shocking that I have viewed in my career.
‘I am pleased with the outcome and hope that this offers reassurance to the public as this dangerous man is now behind bars.’