Man jailed for 27 years after driving over a soldier’s head outside Wetherspoons
A 30-year-old man has been jailed for 27 years after attempting to kill two soldiers with his car in Maidstone.
Anthony Deeprose deliberately drove over one of the soldiers’ heads and used the bonnet of his car to attack the other after getting into an altercation with the pair outside his local Wetherspoons.
He was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court with an additional three years on licence after being found guilty of the two charges of attempted murder and admitting dangerous driving, disqualified driving and assault by beating.
As the judge read his sentence, the family and friends of the 30-year-old erupted in fury and repeatedly screamed: ‘No-one f***** died.’
Judge Philip Statman stepped down from the bench at Maidstone Crown Court as security guards and police officers led the angry crowd away.
During the trial, a Kent Police spokesman said the incident had started when Deeprose had been out with friends at a fancy dress event at a pub in Maidstone on November 12 2022.
A group of soldiers, based at the Invicta Park barracks in Maidstone, had also been attending the 80s fancy dress party to raise money for the Help The Heroes charity.
But following an altercation at the bar, Deeprose punched one of the soldiers, Alex White, in the head.
Despite being disqualified from driving, he then got into his car and drove it directly at the man’s friends, knocking over soldier Ben Walsh and clipping his colleague George Wilkie.
He then drove off, leaving Mr Walsh injured in the road before turning around. But as Mr Wilkie attempted to pull his friend to safety, Deeprose then revved his engine and deliberately drove over Mr Walsh’s head as he lay in the road and causing Mr Wilkie to fly over the bonnet before driving away.
A Kent Police spokesman told the court how one of the victims was still undergoing treatment following the attack and needed vital operations on his face which could leave him blind.
Following his arrest, Deeprose tried to blame a female friend for his actions and began screaming and shouting at officers.
Judge Statman told Deeprose that he was satisfied he had formed an intent to kill as he turned the car around, telling the defendant: ‘It was pre-meditation for a short period of time.’
The judge added: ‘You have had a real problem with your temper.’
Deeprose was also convicted of driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and assault and received a three-year driving ban which he will serve once he is released after serving two-thirds of the 27-year sentence.
After handing out the sentence, the judge thanked paramedics and hospital staff.
Detective Constable Mark Butler, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: ‘Deeprose knew he was likely to cause serious harm to those he drove towards and it is only by chance that we were not dealing with fatalities.
‘Nonetheless, one of the victims suffered life-changing injuries and many of those involved would have been traumatised by this appalling incident.
‘I would like to commend the victims and witnesses who have supported our investigation throughout and ensured this dangerous individual is now serving a lengthy prison sentence.
‘The staff at the public house and the victims’ friends should also be congratulated for the first aid they gave to the two injured men immediately after the incident, and the subsequent assistance they provided to the emergency services’.
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