Disabled man ‘used mobility scooter to knock down two elderly women aged 88 and 90’

A disabled man has claimed he suffered a ‘diabetic crash’ before he allegedly rammed two elderly women with his mobility scooter.

Aaron Ali, 40, is accused of reversing over Doris Collins, 88, and Joan Benjafield, 90, while they were out shopping in Welling, Kent.

The two pensioners were waiting at a bus stop outside South East Models shop on June 14 this year when they were apparently run over by Ali.

Ali, who qualified as a nurse in 2001, claimed he was left disabled for life after he was attacked by a patient while working at Shaftesbury House, Ealing. 

Aaron Ali, 40, allegedly reversed over Doris Collins, 88, and Joan Benjafield, 90, while they were out shopping in Welling, Kent

Ali is also accused of ambushing 72-year-old Michael Gibson in another random attack in nearby Woolwich High Street on January 2.

Ms Collins and Ms Benjafield were waiting to get on a number 96 bus when the ramp came down and Ali rode off on his scooter. 

Ali told the court that he making his way to Lidl to buy some food when he passed the elderly women outside Southeast Models

Giving evidence he said he was the midst of a diabetic crash and was feeling drowsy after his daily morphine intake.

Ali explained: ‘That day I was not feeling well. I was having a diabetic crash. That was what was happening. Basically, I am on morphine, a 116 milligrams a day.

‘Sometimes you would be moving and you would feel like you are sitting. I would knock thing over. It makes you clumsy like a drunk.

‘I am feeling like I am going to pass out, I know my blood sugar level. I am having a diabetic crash, that is what happened.

‘When I went past the ladies on the right they were not underneath the bus shelter. I thought they were not close to me. 

The two pensioners were waiting at a bus stop outside South East Models shop on June 14 this year when they were apparently run over by Ali 

The two pensioners were waiting at a bus stop outside South East Models shop on June 14 this year when they were apparently run over by Ali 

‘I hit something twice. It was plastic, metal and glass altogether. It was a “clonky” sound.

‘The first time it hit the bus bench I looked back to see if anyone was behind me. There was nobody. 

‘Then I turn to see what he was looking at and I see two ladies on the floor. I was not sure if I hit them or I hit the bus stop and they fell or they pushed each other.

‘I was not thinking at that point, I was just scared. I knew my wheelchair had some thing to do with it and I was driving. I was scared people were going to attack me thinking I had done it on purpose. 

‘I drove in the opposite direction I was going in.’

Ali said he then had an energy drink and ate some sweets to restore his blood sugar levels.

Ms Benjafield was left with bruises to her calf and ribs while Ms Collins suffered some abrasions to her knee. 

Ali also denied attacking 72-year-old Michael Gibson in nearby Woolwich High Street on January 2 and claimed the pensioner assaulted him.

Ali is also accused of ambushing 72-year-old Michael Gibson (seen outside court) in another random attack

Ali is also accused of ambushing 72-year-old Michael Gibson (seen outside court) in another random attack

Mr Gibson got up and saw Ali making his way at speed down the road and turning the corner. He ran after Ali in hot pursuit and caught up to him. 

He said that Ali kept looking ahead and refused to answer him. ‘He was in a wheelchair so I left it at that,’ said Mr Gibson.

Mr Gibson said he lit a cigarette after the incident and part of his front tooth came off.

‘I’ve only got three teeth so I did not need to lose another one,’ he said. My face was swollen up and hanging down. After I was just on soups and things like that.’

Ali said Gibson came running at him with a trolley.

‘He was coming towards me he was pulling a trolley on his left side. He was literally running behind someone, He was running to catch up with somebody I believe.

‘There were people here, people everywhere. There a bollard here and a bollard there. The pavement is about a metre either way.

‘There were people walking on both sides of me and the bollards. He was coming around the corner. He was coming straight towards me.

‘He is coming past the market in front of the Chinese shop. He came running round the corner at some speed.

‘My arm was, I think, on the handle, my left arm was controlling the wheel chair. He is coming straight to my right leg and my right arm and he is not slowing down.

‘He is not side-stepping he is coming straight towards me as he is chasing someone. I am trying to slow down at that first place you have got to gradually slow down.

‘I had my hand up to brace and I braced for impact. He was literally over me. I thought he was going to crash into me.

‘I had my arm up to brace my face.’

Ali, of Thamesmead, denies three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of common assault.

The trial continues.

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