Driver jailed for killing man in ‘grotesque overreaction’ to broken wing mirror

A pizza delivery driver has been jailed for 14 years for mowing down two young men, killing one and injuring another, in a “grotesque overreaction” to a broken wing mirror.

John Ambler, 33, had been walking with Jake Kemp, 26, after a night out when he drunkenly punched out at Uran Nabiev’s parked Toyota Prius in the early hours of October 19 last year.

Nabiev, 63, who had been at home drinking vodka, was accused of taking “the law into his own hands”.

He drove up behind the two men, revved his engine and mounted the pavement.

Uran Nabiev court case
Uran Nabiev court case

Mr Ambler was hit in the arm and his friend ran off, pursued by Nabiev, who reversed and mounted the opposite pavement.

Mr Kemp, an air conditioning engineer, stumbled and fell just before he was hit by the car.

He was dragged nearly 30ft (9m) down the pavement, ending up face down in a pool of blood.

He had suffered a serious head injury and died in hospital three days later.

Nabiev fled to his home country of Azerbaijan but returned to the UK to face trial at the Old Bailey.

Uran Nabiev court case
Uran Nabiev court case

A jury deliberated for more than 19 hours to find Nabiev guilty of manslaughter and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced on Tuesday to a total of 14 years in prison and disqualified from driving for five years upon his release.

Judge Richard Marks QC rejected Nabiev’s claim that he only meant to “scare” the young men, having viewed graphic CCTV of the incident in Bickley Road, Erith, south-east London.

He said: “This was a grotesque and wholly unwarranted overreaction to minor damage having been caused to your vehicle.

“This was, in any view, a truly horrific incident.”

He told the defendant that the account he gave to jurors showed he had “no remorse at all” for what he did.

Uran Nabiev court case
Uran Nabiev court case

In a victim impact statement, Mr Kemp was described by his father as a “bundle of mischief” who was never malicious, unkind or deliberately mean.

Maurice Kemp said: “Since Jake’s death, we as a family have had to persevere through extreme adversity despite being overwhelmed with sadness.”

The father of five said the family had agreed to donate his son’s organs after all efforts to save him failed.

“Jake was young and healthy, he had a big heart,” he said. “We were grateful Jake was able to give the gift of life to others.

“Jake helped so many people improve the quality of their lives, it was Jake’s final act of generosity.”

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