I thank God the two girls I hit didn’t die, Brookside star Louis Emerick Grant says after being spared jail
A FORMER Brookside star who ran over two schoolgirls leaving them with "life changing injuries" has "thanked god" they did not die.
Louis Emerick Grant, 70, who played cabbie Mick Johnson in the hit show, was spared jail during a court hearing today.
The girls, aged 12 and 13, were crossing the road in Wallasey, Merseyside, when Grant ploughed into them.
Wirral Magistrates' Court heard how the girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, both suffered "life changing injuries" after Johnson ran them over last year.
One suffered a broken leg in the crash with fears it may have to be amputated, while the other was left with a fractured leg and ankle, a broken jaw and teeth.
Grant, who played Mick Johnson in the Channel 4 show, has now been spared jail after he admitted causing serious injury.
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The actor was instead handed a 26 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months and an 18 month driving ban.
He was also ordered to pay costs totalling £274 and carry out 200 hours unpaid work.
Speaking after the hearing, Grant told of his relief that the girls survived the smash.
He said: "God must have been looking over us that day."
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Asked how would have felt if the girls had not recovered from their injuries, he said: "God knows my life would have been over. I would have been destroyed."
Grant said after his sentencing the incident had been “horrific” as he expressed his remorse.
He added: "I don’t know how I could have lived with myself if one of them had died.”
The court heard Grant was not speeding and did not test positive for drink and drugs.
He said: "I think the sun was in my eyes and that was it. I called 999."
Grant described how he had been in regular touch with both families after the crash.
He said: "I organised a trip to the panto for one of the girls and her family. The other girl could not make it so that was fine. The families have been fine with me."
Wirral Magistrates' Court was told by the mum of the older girl that she still has nightmares following the crash.
She said that signing a consent form for her daughter’s leg to be amputated if necessary “was one of the hardest things I have ever done".
The mum added: "The last eight months have been horrendous.”
The girls had been crossing the road to go to the shop on October 2 when the horror unfolded.
The court was told both girls were unable to return to school for several months and will need to undergo further surgery for their injuries.
Grant was breathalysed at the scene but there was no evidence he had taken drink or drugs or that he was using his phone at the time of the crash.
The actor was not seen slowing down or braking on the approach to the bend and later blamed the sun for obscuring his vision.
Grant was wearing prescription glasses at the time, which react to the sun.
Tony Nelson, defending, said Grant had been in touch with both sets of parents and checks in regularly on their progress.
He explained dad-of-two Grant’s employment is irregular and his average income is £500 a week.
Natasha Williamson, prosecuting, told the court how the girls both suffered serious injuries after the incident last year.
Ms Williamson read victim impact statements on behalf of both parents.
A 12-year-girl suffered a broken leg, jaw and nose. Several of her teeth were also shattered.
The court heard how she had developed a lisp as a result of her facial injuries and had lost confidence at school.
Her injuries were described as "devastating"; and ";life changing" by her parents.
But the girl's mum said that she "did not want anything to happen" to Mr Grant.
District Crown Prosecutor Linda Melia, of CPS Mersey Cheshire, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident and the two girls suffered serious injuries as a result of what happened on that day.
"Louis Emerick Grant was not speeding but admitted that he couldn’t see clearly because of the sun so he should have slowed down. The sun visor of the car was not down.
“He has been fully cooperative and remorseful throughout the investigation and has apologised on numerous occasions. He has been in contact with both families and has apologised to them too. He tested negatively at the roadside for drink and drugs.
“When we drive a car we are in control of something powerful that, if we lose concentration or clear vision for a minute, can cause serious injury, even death.
"It’s clear Mr Grant did not mean to injure these girls, but the events of that day are a lesson that, when we are at the wheel of a car, care and attention are needed at all times.
“When we don’t drive carefully or considerately we are breaking the law and this case is an example of how serious the results of that can be. The Crown Prosecution Service would like to thank the girls and their families for their help in bringing this prosecution.”
Grant played cabbie Mick on Brookside from 1989 to 2001.
He also had roles in Casualty, Last of the Summer wine and Coronation Street, where he played Mike Thornberry.
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The star recently appeared in Netflix's mini-series Cleopatra
