On Christmas Eve of last year, at around 4.15 in the morning, Clive and Sam Kitchen nearly avoided death when 26-year-old Luke O’Brien accelerated his car toward them as they crossed the street.
A terrifying moment in which a father and son narrowly avoided being run over by a reckless vehicle after an incident on a night out was seen on CCTV.
On Christmas Eve of last year, at around 4.15 in the morning, Clive and Sam Kitchen nearly avoided death when 26-year-old Luke O’Brien accelerated his car toward them as they crossed the street.
After Mr. Kitchen picked up his son following a night out, O’Brien waited in his car outside the victims’ home.
O’Brien got angry and argued with one of the victim’s companions outside the Peppermint bar in Cardiff’s downtown, according to testimony given in court.
Then, while inebriated, he got into his car and drove to the victim’s home with the intention of pursuing him in a sick vengeance plot.
The defendant sped up and drove his car in the direction of the two, but Mr. Kitchen, acting quickly, pulled his son, who was following him, out of the road just in time.
O’Brien of Cardiff’s Ely admitted to causing actual bodily harm and reckless driving.
The two men collapsed to the ground while avoiding the car, suffering wounds, bruises, and anguish throughout their bodies.
O’Brien later hit a bollard while driving home, and around 5.30 in the morning, police detained him.
Police arrived at his home and asked him: “You know why we are here.”
Yep, O’Brien simply retorted.
Mr. Kitchen stated in a victim impact statement that he thought the effort was “premeditated” and made with “obvious intent.”
Without my quick efforts, Sam would have been fatally wounded, he claimed.
I now experience panic attacks, feel exposed, and am quite anxious when crossing the street.
I’ve had trouble sleeping, and whenever a car drives by and I have to check who it is, I wake up in a panic.
“Every time my kid leaves the house, I’m continually concerned that Luke would return and complete what he started.
My wife and I debate whether Luke will visit and work on our house or automobiles, or whether he will wait until Luke gets home.
“My son is a large, strong young man, but he was entirely exposed, and I shudder to think what would have happened if it weren’t for me being in the right location at the right time to pull him to safety.”
He was always the heart and spirit of the party, but whenever I attempt to talk about it, he cuts me off.
He was a highly great football player, but ever since the incident, his back pain and soft tissue injury have prevented him from playing the sport he loves.
He now has a depressed state.
When you saw them getting out of their car and crossing the street, you drove quickly, the judge, recorder Simon Hughes said.
“I’ve seen the CCTV film, and it’s horrible. Your goal was to hit them,” I said.
You and they were extremely lucky because Mr. Kitchen had the foresight to drag his son out of harm’s path, preventing more serious injury.
O’Brien received a 21-month prison sentence and a 22-month driving prohibition.
He received a restraining order prohibiting him from speaking with the couple for ten years.