Moment disqualified hit

A disqualified driver who ran over and killed a father told police 'I haven't hit nothing' when he was arrested.

Stuart Nicholls, 46, smashed into Karl Bradshaw after he had tripped and fallen into the road. 

The driver, who had previously been disqualified after being caught without insurance, drove round a taxi which had stopped to help the injured father before running him over.

Nicholls heartlessly drove away while Mr Bradshaw's injuries were so severe he tragically died at the scene.

The 46-year-old has now been jailed for four years and four months and banned from driving for seven years. 

Stuart Nicholls, 46, has been jailed for four years and four months and banned from driving for seven years after running over and leaving a father to die 

Karl Bradshaw, 41, was run over by Bradshaw when he tripped and fell into the road. His injuries were so severe he died at the scene

When police arrested the dangerous driver he denied he had done anything wrong, telling officers: 'I didn't 'I haven't hit nothing'

Nicholls was driving a black Renault Megane along Paston Ridings, Peterborough, on Thursday, October 20, 2022, at about 8.45pm when he struck Mr Bradshaw, 41.

A taxi dropping people off at a nearby Deaf Blind centre drove around the injured 41-year-old before stopping nearby to help when Nicholls turned onto the road.

The father's injuries were catastrophic and he died at the scene but Nicholls carried on driving.

Witnesses identified the Megane Nicholls was driving and automatic number plate recognition cameras also confirmed he was in the area at the time of the collision, as well as linking him to the car.

At the time of the collision, Nicholls had been disqualified from driving for previously having no insurance.

Officers found the Megane parked up the following day in Crowland Road, on the outskirts of Peterborough and Nicholls was arrested at a farm near Crowland.

Police bodycam footage shows the moment the callous driver was arrested in his home. 

The 46-year-old swerved round a taxi which had parked in order to assist Mr Bradshaw and then hit him before driving off

Nicholls had previously been disqualified from driving for having no insurance. He 

In the video, police tell Nicholls to take off his jacket and sit down before reading out that he is under arrest on suspicion of dangerous driving and for driving while disqualified. 

As police explain the charges, Nicholls talks over them, shouting 'Can you just tell me what I've done' and putting his hands to his head in shock. 

He also says: 'What do you mean I've been hit? I've hit nothing'

'I haven't hit nothing'.

On May 13 at Cambridge Crown Court, Nicholls, of Crowland, was jailed for four years and four months having pleaded guilty to causing death by driving whilst disqualified at an earlier hearing.

He was also banned from driving for seven years.

Nicholls received no separate penalty for causing death by driving a vehicle whilst uninsured and a charge of aggravated vehicle taking and the charge of causing death by an accident was ordered to lie on file.  

Mr Bradshaw's family said they were pleased to 'have finally received a form of justice for him.'

Karl was taken from us in a tragic hit and run and we have finally received a form of justice for him.

'Karl was a loving son, father, brother, uncle and a friend to many. He was a happy go lucky man, with a great sense of wit and humour.

'Despite his own problems, he would always be there for anyone, whether it was providing help to be a friend or simply just to listen.

'The shock and impact to our family and friends has been massive, but with the lengthy legal proceedings behind us, hopefully now we will be able to start to grieve properly.'

Detective Sergeant Craig Wheeler, of Cambridgeshire Police, said: 'Stuart Nicholls should never have been on the road that day and showed a complete disregard for the law. He knew he was disqualified from driving and had no insurance.

'Through his poor driving, he caused the death of Mr Bradshaw who was innocently going about his business and callously left the scene.

'He gave no thought to the catastrophic consequences of his actions by leaving Mr Bradshaw alone in the road with unsurvivable injuries.

'I hope the sentencing provides Mr Bradshaw's family with some justice and closure.

'This collision highlights the dangers disqualified drivers pose to the public when they ignore their driving ban and the devastation this then causes when avoidable collisions, such as this, occur.'