Carjacker who crippled mother jailed indefinitely

A crack addict who carjacked a mother-of-four before running her down and dragging her 65 feet down a road was jailed indefinitely today.

Kevin Richardson jumped behind the wheel of Caroline Johnson's car when she was scraping ice from the windscreen outside her home as she prepared to take her son to school.

He "frothed at the mouth" and screamed "ha, ha, ha, move out of the car or I'm going to f***ing kill you" before driving over his victim.

Mrs Johnson, 46, of Langley, Berkshire, has been left wheelchair-bound as a result of the injuries suffered in December last year.

Richardson, 34 of Slough, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial at Reading crown court last month.

Today he was told he was being jailed for the public's protection and would not be considered for parole until he had served at least seven and a half years. He would only be released if he could prove he was no longer a danger to the public.

He was also sentenced to 20 months for the aggravated vehicle taking and 18 months for dangerous driving, to run concurrently. His passenger, Karen Napper, 34 of Slough, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and was sentenced to 16 months.

Sentencing, Judge Stephen John said: "This was a completely selfish and pointless offence with the gravest consequences for an utterly innocent, decent, member of society. At the time of these offences, two worlds collided — that of an innocent family woman and that of two crack addicts concerned only with themselves."

The judge told Richardson his behaviour had been "despicable" and he would remain a "significant danger" unless he changed his way of life.

"You are volatile and unpredictable, particularly when you are on drugs or seeking them."

Napper was banned from driving for two years and Richardson for 10 years.

Tony Ventham, defending, said Richardson had been on a "two-day bender of using cocaine" and took the Citroen Picasso on the spur of the moment so he could drive home, having spent the night in a drug house.

Mrs Johnson's injuries were so serious that she could have died. Only the prompt actions of a passer-by who went to her aid, and the swift arrival of an ambulance, saved her life. She may never walk again, the court heard.

Richardson, who has four children, has a long string of convictions for violent crimes dating back to 1988.