An off-duty midwife who was injured when she was struck by a car during a disturbance in Sheffield has spoken out following the sentencing of those responsible - saying she hopes the outcome will help those involved recognise the impact of their actions and take steps towards rehabilitation.
Alison Norris was among a group of people injured on 27 December 2023, when Hassan Jhangur drove his Seat Ibiza into a crowd who had stopped to help a woman in distress in the Burngreave area of the city. Father-of-two Chris Marriott, 46, sadly died at the scene.
Ms Norris described the incident as a “devastating event” that has left a lasting mark on her physically, professionally, and emotionally. She said the sentence handed down serves as a powerful reminder that serious actions have serious consequences - and expressed hope that those responsible will now be given the opportunity to learn from what happened.
Donna Hughes, a personal injury specialist at Thompsons Solicitors, who represents Ms Norris, said the case shows how quickly lives can be shattered when emotion overrides judgement behind the wheel.
Speaking after the sentence, Ms Norris said: “What happened that day has affected every part of my life. I hope that those involved have begun to understand the full scale of what happened, and the pain it has caused to so many.
“While I respect that the sentence handed down is a sobering reminder that actions have consequences, I think rehabilitation is more effective than punishment. The record in countries like Finland shows that rehabilitation does a much better job of stopping people re-offending.
“More than anything, I hope those responsible are given the support they need to confront what happened, to learn from it, to change, and to begin to heal - with psychological therapy forming part of that process.”
Donna Hughes, of Thompsons Solicitors, added: “Alison has shown remarkable strength and grace throughout this process. The sentence delivers accountability, but it cannot undo the lasting harm caused by a single reckless act.
“Through the work that we do we know that road traffic collisions can cause immeasurable damage, and this case shows how quickly lives can be shattered when emotion overrides judgement behind the wheel. The consequences reach far beyond those directly involved, affecting families and entire communities.”
Reflecting on the events over the last few years, Ms Norris went on to say that she believes that the best way to honour Chris’s memory is to “take responsibility for how we treat one another”, urging people to “resist hurting others when we are hurting ourselves, and to keep looking out for one another with kindness and generosity”.