A driver from Leatherhead who claimed his vehicle had a defect to avoid a charge of careless driving has avoided jail.

23 year old Tim Tan hit a pedestrian in Epsom town centre in April 2024 leaving his victim with high impact injuries.

Tan initially claimed that his Mercedes A Class AMG was defective.

He was later charged with causing an injury by careless/inconsiderate driving.

He’s been handed a two year jail sentence suspended for two years, ordered to pay £1,500 in costs and been disqualified for 3 years must take an extended retest requirement and complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

Due to the injuries sustained, the victim was off work for several months which “impacted their career progression.”

The officer in charge of the case, PC Watson, said: “This was a serious collision in a busy town centre witnessed by members of the public, and its consequences have been significant for the victim. The sentence given should serve as a reminder to every driver that they have a responsibility to drive safely and consider the potential consequences of their actions.”