An uninsured student 'smirked and laughed' before ploughing his car into the 'courageous' Kingston University security guard trying to stop him fleeing the scene of a crash, a court heard.

Talal Al-Hindi, of Raeburn Avenue, Surbiton spent four days on the run after hitting 44-year-old Jason Butler in the university’s Penrhyn Road campus on July 10 last year.

The 20-year-old had borrowed a blue Ford Focus and was not insured to drive when he hit a Ford Ka in the university car park, Kingston Crown Court heard today. After trying to bribe the driver he hit with £70 and then giving a false name and number he tried to flee the car park before Mr Butler attempted to stop him. CCTV footage shows Al-Hindi reversing into Mr Butler before putting the car into first gear and driving toward the exit at speed, a judge was told. Mr Butler is seen hitting the windscreen and rolling off the side of the car. The Kingston University student then dumped the car in a nearby street.

Mr Butler added that he had sustained injuries to his knee, elbow and a five inch deep gash on his shoulder. He also said had he suffered from posttraumatic stress. Al-Hindi had previously admitted charges of aggravated bodily harm and dangerous driving but denied smiling and laughing as he ran over the security guard at a hearing on March 1, claiming he was in a “blind panic” when Mr Butler tried to stop him leaving the car park. The defence team elected to go to a ‘Newton hearing’ to decide the severity of the sentence.

Defence lawyer Laura Plant argued that Al-Hindi was under severe stress at the time because of family problems that had left him as the “man of the house” and suggested a “short, sharp shock” was needed. Al-Hindu, who was convicted of common assault and drug possession after the university crash, was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institute for ABH and dangerous driving. He was also ordered to pay Mr Butler £500 compensation.