Man accused of injuring seven people with car in Derby appears in court
A man accused of dangerous driving has been remanded in custody after appearing in court after seven people were injured when a car crashed into pedestrians in Derby on Saturday night.
Sandhu Ponnachan, 36, of Chariot Close, Alvaston, appeared at South Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and was charged with six counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of attempted grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed instrument.
Four men and three women, aged between 36 and 52, were injured when a black Suzuki Swift drove onto the pavement outside Bishop Blaise in Friar’s Gate at around 9.30pm on Saturday.
Ponnachan was arrested seven minutes after the incident. Derbyshire Police said four people have so far been discharged from hospital. Police stated that the condition of the injured was serious but not life-threatening.
Ponnachan, who appeared before the magistrate’s court docket, showed no sign of emotion as he spoke only to verify his personal details, including his address. He was remanded in custody until his appearance at Derby Crown Court on April 29.
There was no bail request during the hearing, which lasted approximately five minutes.
District judge Jonathan Taaffe began the hearing by addressing Ponnachan directly. The judge told him: “You are facing a number of charges arising from an incident that occurred on 28 March.
“You are said to have been driving dangerously on that date and to have committed unlawful and malicious acts that caused grievous bodily harm to many people.
“Given the nature of the charges, they can only be dealt with in the crown court.”
Counter-terrorism police assisted Derbyshire Police with the investigation, but police said at the time this did not mean the incident was being treated as terrorism.
Speaking to the media at Derbyshire Police’s southern district headquarters following the court hearing, Chief Inspector Emma Aldred said there would be extra patrols in the city this weekend.
He said: “This incident has naturally sent shockwaves through the Derby community and beyond.
“There will be extra patrols in the city this weekend to reassure anyone visiting to enjoy the bank holiday weekend.
“My thoughts and those of the wider force are with each of the seven injured people, their families and any witnesses at the scene.”
Janine McKinney, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Our prosecutors worked to establish that there was sufficient evidence to take the case to court and that it was in the public interest to continue the criminal investigation.
“We worked carefully with Derbyshire Police as they carried out their investigation.”
