THE VICTIM of a thug who used his VW Golf as a weapon to crush his legs said he saw his life flash before his eyes.

Bradley Atkinson was standing chatting to friends in the car park of the Spotted Cow pub, off Marlborough Road, when Lee Goodchild deliberately reversed his car towards him.

The 42-year-old had no chance to get out of the way of the speeding Golf. His left leg was crushed, severing blood vessels and nearly resulting in the limb having to be amputated.

Yesterday, Goodchild was jailed for almost 14 years for what a Swindon judge labelled a cold-blooded attack.

Mr Atkinson sat in the public gallery at Swindon Crown Court as his victim statement was read out by prosecutor Hannah Squire.

In the statement, he said: “I saw my life flash before me and I didn’t know if I would life to see another day.

“My left leg reminds me how close to death I was.

“Every day is a battle.”

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Lee Goodchild Picture: WILTSHIRE POLICE

On the evening of April 19, Mr Atkinson had gone to the Spotted Cow to buy drugs – as had Lee Goodchild.

The latter, 38, claimed a dealer had pulled a knife on him, resulting in him fleeing the scene – and “accidentally” crushing bystander Mr Atkinson as he reversed out of his parking space.

Judge Jason Taylor QC said Goodchild’s claim at trial the injury was caused accidentally would have been laughable had the injuries not been so serious.

After arguing with the dealer, Goodchild was said to have returned to his car. “The red mist slowly descended as you pondered your response over the next three to five minutes,” the judge said.

Rather than fleeing immediately, Goodchild had deliberately driven at what he thought was the drug dealer who had wronged him. It was in fact innocent bystander Mr Atkinson, who had also gone to the car park to buy drugs.

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The £10,000 VW Golf being driven by Lee Goodchild Picture: CPS

Mr Atkinson was crushed between the Golf and another car. Surgeons battled successfully to save his leg. He was in hospital for two months but his recovery is expected to take years.

Giving evidence during the trial, Mr Atkinson showed jurors his shattered left leg. He told the court: “I tried to run at first. I didn’t know what happened. There were just people saying, ‘it’s your leg, it’s your leg’. I went to the floor.

“This woman held my hand and told me I was going to be alright. I didn’t know who she was.

“I was asking her not to let me die, asking ‘am I going to die?'"

“That must have been horrific for her.”

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The Spotted Cow pub, off Marlborough Road Picture: DAVE COX

Yesterday, Judge Taylor said: “Collateral or otherwise, the damage caused was life-changing and your intention was undoubtedly to cause very serious harm.”

He added: “This was calculating, callous and cold-blooded.

“You used your car as a weapon and, frankly, in my judgement you didn’t care if someone lost a limb or limbs, was paralysed or even worse.”

After fleeing the scene, Goodchild removed the licence plates from his car and hid the vehicle in Marlborough.

Goodchild, formerly of The Crescent, Chiseldon, was found guilty by a Swindon jury last month of wounding with intent. He was cleared of another similar allegation relating to an incident in Liden village centre on December 30.

The Swindon man, who in 2013 was convicted of dangerous driving after he drove deliberately at his then partner, was sentenced to 13 years and 10 months imprisonment. He was also given a four-year driving ban. The Crown was given permission to seize his VW Golf.

The judge stepped short of ruling Goodchild to be a dangerous offender, which would have resulted in him serving a longer portion of his prison sentence before being eligible for parole.