Ex-soldier Errol Woodger jailed after running over amputee

A former soldier has been jailed for 13 years over the death of an amputee who he ran over after stealing his car.

Errol Woodger, 38, broke into a block of flats in Erith, south-east London, early on 29 December 2019 and snatched the keys to a specially-adapted car which belonged to resident Marc Allen.

As Woodger went to drive off, the 50-year-old tried to stop him by standing in the middle of the road with his hands up saying “that’s my car”. Seconds later, Woodger ran him over causing a severe head injury from which he died a month later having never regained consciousness.

At the Old Bailey, Woodger was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and robbery.

He was sentenced to 13 years with a further five years on extended licence for manslaughter.

The judge also handed Woodger eight years in prison for robbery, to be run concurrently.

The court heard that seconds after Mr Allen had gone into the road, Woodger revved the car forward “at speed” and hit Mr Allen, sending him crashing into the bonnet and over the roof of the Mercedes.

Having initially denied being present, the defendant claimed he was only a passenger in the vehicle driven by an accomplice who had since died from a drug overdose.

He was charged after his fingerprints were identified on a plastic box and water bottle found under the front passenger seat and his DNA was discovered on a cigarette.

Judge Rebecca Trowler KC said she could not be sure Woodger was driving the Mercedes or exclude the possibility there were others in the car.

However, she noted his long-standing drug abuse and history of violent offending and the risk of causing harm to the public in the future.

In her sentencing, Judge Trowler noted Woodger had post traumatic stress disorder after serving in Afghanistan and was dishonourably discharged after going awol and testing positive for drugs.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Allen’s father, Charlie Allen, said: “I watched my son fight for air before he died. It has been the worst experience I think any father or family should go through.

“While we are still mourning the death of Marc, me and my family have now been put through the horrendous court appearances and watch the guilty man try his best to escape justice.

“The pain that my family has gone through, there’s no way anyone could imagine what it was like to lose Marc that way. So I end with these words: Let justice be done.”