A 23-YEAR-OLD has been jailed for six and a half years for trying to cheat a pensioner out of £100,000 before being chased by police and 'mowing' into a pedestrian with his van.

Noel Ward drove at speeds of up to 50 mph through the crowded streets of High Wycombe town centre on November 4 last year.

A pedestrian, Mohammed Fazal, 59, was “catapulted” into the air on Oxford Road by Sainsbury's and is still in hospital recovering from his injuries, Aylesbury Crown Court heard today.

Patrick Connors, 30, who was also convicted of trying to con an 81-year-old widow in Deeds Grove, High Wycombe, before the police chase, was jailed for four and a half years.

Ward, from Grays in Essex, was sentenced to four and a half years for fraud by false representation and two years for dangerous driving.

He was also given a concurrent six months in prison for driving whilst disqualified. He had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Connors, who is from Coventry, was jailed for four and a half years for fraud by false representation.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, though he did not appear in court during the trial last month. A warrant was issued for his arrest but he was not present at court today.

A victim impact statement written by one of Mr Fazal's sons was read out in court. He wrote: “When he [Mr Fazal] was in intensive care we didn't know if he would ever wake up...I can't begin to tell you how we felt.

“My father's life has stopped even though he's alive, his quality of life is dead. We don't think he'll improve anymore.”

The court heard the 'proud' father was left with brain damage as well as chest, abdominal, head and pelvic injuries.

His liver was also lacerated and he now has to use a wheelchair. He will require 24-hour care and his sons are currently attending training courses so they are able to assist him.

One son has had to give up his job to do the training, the court heard.

The judge was also told Mr Fazal may never be able to travel back to Pakistan where most of his family live.

Before being chased in a white van through High Wycombe, Connors and Ward, who were described as Irish travellers, tried to persuade 81-year-old Joyce Hardy that her roof needed repair work and 'tested the water' by quoting a price of £100,000.

Though the quoted price later dropped to £5,000 an independent surveyor said any work that needed doing to the roof would cost about £800. His Honour Judge Sheridan described the attempt as “prevalent, despicable and mean-spirited”.

He said: "You carefully and deliberately targeted your victim in this case.”

What happened to Mr Fazal was “beyond belief”, he said, and he called Ward's driving “disgraceful”.

He told Ward: “You are a coward – you didn't even have the decency to face up to what you had done. You fought this case and you get no credit for your plea. I've seen little or no sign of remorse...it's easy to say you are sorry now.”

He said Mr Fazal's family had behaved with restraint and dignity during the trial adding: “What they have done for their father is a model example to every citizen in the country....He would be proud of you.”