Brighton hit and run driver faces jail

A hit and run driver looks likely to be jailed on Monday (19 November) after he admitted knocking over a 28-year-old carer from Hove.

Christopher Chan, 31, didn’t stop after smashing into Michelle Greest in a stolen Volkswagen Passat on Brighton seafront in July.

Christopher Chan

Chan, who is jobless and homeless, sped off along the A259 King’s Road to Portslade where he burgled the Wooden Floor Centre in Trafalgar Road.

He came back to the same shop later and stole more goods. He also stole another car, a Vauxhall Corsa, in Hove.

Earlier he had filled the tank of the VW Passat and driven off without paying – or bilked – from the Texaco in Eastern Road, Brighton.

Miss Greest has still not fully recovered from the injuries that she suffered when Chan ran her over at about 4.45am on Sunday 15 July.

She was crossing King’s Road, near the bottom of West Street, after a night out with friends.

As a result of Chan hitting her she suffered head injuries and several broken bones in her back, hips and legs.

In August Miss Greest said: “I don’t remember anything about the crash until I woke up in great pain in my hospital bed.

“I have suffered ten breaks to various bones in my body which include my legs, hips and vertebrae and will not be able to walk properly for some time to come.

“Doctors have told me I had two blood clots on my brain and that I am lucky to have not suffered brain damage as a result.

“I don’t know how anyone can do such a thing – knock a human being down and just drive on.

“Luckily I was with people who were able to call an ambulance for me and get me the urgent medical help that I needed.”

Detective Constable Tracey Dixon, from Brighton and Hove CID, said: “I don’t think we will ever know why Christopher Chan was able to knock down another human being, drive on and continue on a spree of burglaries and thefts in the early hours of Sunday 15 July.

“Throughout his time in custody he has refused to comment let alone show any remorse for his actions.

“I am pleased that Chan’s victims will not have to go through the process of giving evidence in court.

“Michelle Greest, the 28-year-old woman who was seriously injured in the hit and run, has shown a huge amount of courage but will no doubt be left with both the physical and mental scars of what happened to her for a very long time to come.”

At Brighton Crown Court yesterday (Wednesday 14 November) Chan admitted the aggravated theft of the VW Passat in Coldean Lane, Brighton, on Tuesday 3 July.

Chan committed a string of offences on Sunday 15 July in Brighton. He admitted

• driving off without paying for petrol (known as bilking)
• the aggravated theft of a car
• failing to report an accident
• failing to stop after an accident
• driving without insurance
• two counts of burglary
• taking a Vauxhall Corsa without the owner’s consent
• driving while disqualified

Chan committed three more offences before being stopped by Sussex Police on the A27 at Polegate on Thursday 16 August. He admitted

• the aggravated theft of a car
• driving while disqualified
• failing to provide a specimen for analysis

He is being held in custody while he awaits sentence on Monday when he is likely to be jailed.

Aggravated car theft – when someone is injured or property is damaged by the driver of the stolen car – carries a maximum sentence of two years.