Bushey businessman has jail term reduced

A Bushey businessman who fled the scene after crashing his McLaren supercar, which left an army veteran badly injured, had his jail sentence reduced.

Ravi Ruparelia, of The Harlequins, Sandy Lane, was sentenced to 22 months at Southwark Crown Court on August 6. 

The 30-year-old, who left the army veteran with leg fractures, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Ruparelia was behind the wheel of his McLaren Coupe, when it lost control, hit a traffic light and then crashed through barriers at Marble Arch on November 12 last year.

The traffic light, which fell on top of Anthony Davis, caused him serious physical and mental damage as he was left feeling “angry, depressed and fed up”.

He had to take time off work and suffered flashbacks and nightmares. 

An off-duty police officer spoke to Ruparelia and asked him to wait with his vehicle. After leaving the scene, the court heard, Ruparelia later called the police asking about his car.

The judge who jailed him labelled his actions as “frankly appalling” when he chose not to stay at the scene and assist Mr Davis. 

William Clegg QC, for Ruparelia, argued that his jail term was too tough and should be reduced.

The hotel and care home businessman’s “genuinely positive good character” was used by the QC throughout the appeal.

The court heard his charitable work, in providing food for the homeless, was noticed by the Mayor of Harrow last year as he received a commendation.

It was an “isolated incident” in an ‘‘otherwise unblemished driving history’’ argued the QC.

Mrs Justice Cutts said: “This was a serious piece of dangerous driving.”

She went on to say it was his responsibility to “take particular care”, but instead he “drove too fast and lost control”.

Ruparelia was driving a high-performance car “on a wet road where there was likely to be pedestrians.” He “should have remained at the scene, instead he ran”, she added.

But the appeal judge said there was “force in the submissions” made on Ruparelia’s behalf that his jail term was “too high”.

She allowed his appeal and reduced his jail term from 22 months to 14 months.