Primary school teacher, 22, weeps as she is spared jail after ploughing her car into footballer, 32, who lost his right foot

A primary school teacher who caused a road crash which cost a talented footballer his right foot broke down and wept as she walked free from court.

Leah McGrory-Weger, 22, failed to spot scooter rider Sina Saman Nejad as she was making a right hand turn in the street in her Vauxhall Corsa and drove in front of him.

Mr Nejad, 32, who played for charity teams connected to Everton and Liverpool was unable to stop in time and was thrown into the air by the force of the impact. 

He suffered a shoulder injury, concussion and severe injuries to his right foot which had to be amputated above the ankle. 

Friends said he was just 30 minutes away from dying.

The accident in Anfield, Liverpool wrecked Mr Nejad’s ambitions of becoming a football coach for the Premier League and the England squad. 

Leah McGrory-Weger, 22, failed to spot scooter rider Sina Saman Nejad as she was making a right hand turn in the street in her Vauxhall Corsa and drove in front of him

Sina Saman Nejad, 32, who played for charity teams connected to Everton and Liverpool was unable to stop in time and was thrown into the air by the force of the impact

Primary school teacher Leah McGrory-Weger, 22, caused a road crash which cost a talented footballer his right foot 

He says he cannot even watch football on the TV now without being reminded of his loss.

At Sefton magistrates court, McGrory-Weger who teaches at a primary school in Liverpool pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving and was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.

Despite facing a possible jail term for what prosecutors described as ‘unsafe manoeuvring’ the court heard she was dressed and ready in the dock to oversee her school Nativity play after the case finished.

The incident occurred at 8.20pm on February 9 this year as schools were breaking up for the Spring half term holiday. 

Mr Nejad who came to the UK from his native Iran was working as a deliveryman at the time and was four hours into his shift on his grey Yamaha Max scooter.

Ed Handley, prosecuting, said: ‘He was wearing a black coat with reflectors and a full-face crash helmet. 

‘His headlight was on, which he says comes on automatically and he was clearly visible in the darkness. 

‘He saw two cars driving towards him and the front car suddenly turned in front of him. 

‘He did not have time to brake and the car hit his right side. He was thrown into the air and hit the pavement.

‘The doctors carried out an amputation below the knee of the right foot and ankle bone due to traumatic vascular injury. 

‘In an interview the defendant confirmed making a right turn but could not give an explanation as to how she did not see the defendant’s motorcycle.’

In a statement Mr Nejad who now has a prosthetic limb said he had to learn how to walk again and carry out basic functions again such as cleaning himself.

‘It causes me a lot of pain and discomfort and there have been slips and falls,’ he added. ‘If I do not have it on, I suffer from phantom limb pains, and then there is pain when it is on. It is sweaty and uncomfortable.

‘Before the collision I lived in a fifth floor flat but it became unsuitable because of my injury and I had to move home. I had two jobs working as a delivery driver and security at the weekend but I had to give both up and I am now dependent on the help of other people.

Pictured: Leah McGrory-Weger, 22, during a graduation ceremony. The primary school teacher was spared jail

Sina Saman Nejad was so scarred by the crash in which he lost his right foot to that he can’t even watch football on TV without being reminded of his loss

‘It is not what I am used to. I have always been a friendly and outgoing person, always involving myself with people, either voluntary or paid work. 

‘These days I tire quickly. I find I want to be alone a lot. My family knows that is not me.’

Mr Nejad said he used to complete 5km and 10km runs and was involved in community football, with the Liverpool Homeless Football Club and the Everton in the Community scheme.

‘My real dream was working with the national team and everything I did was all focused on that dream,’ he added. 

‘Now even watching football on TV hurts me and is a reminder of the loss. Even though Everton FC are helping me to change my direction and use my experience to help in the disabled game, by studying hard and the medication I am tired and I find I do not have much concentration.

‘I am just lucky that I have got people, family and friends to support me as I go through this changed path in life. My life will always be changed as a result of the loss of my leg as a result of that crash.’

In mitigation defence lawyer Jim Smith said Mr Nejad was travelling at 30mph when the accident scene had a 20mph zone and argued that had he been travelling within the speed limit he could have braked in time.

He added: ‘Witnesses indicate the defendant was being over cautious and driving really slow in approaching the junction itself. From her inexperience of driving, she is someone who has always taken care, and she approached the junction overly carefully.

‘She cannot account for the collision. On one occasion she did look but simply did not look again. It was a slow manoeuvre but a near-fatal one as far as the victim was concerned.’

Mr Smith went on: ‘She has very impressive references from friends, family and an employer which say this is a lady who upholds the great principles of hard work. She is caring and full of warmth, thoughtful and well thought of by others.

‘She no longer has the characteristics of confidence and joy that she demonstrated to friends and family but remains a dedicated teacher.

The accident wrecked Mr Nejad’s ambitions of becoming a football coach for the Premier League and the England squad

‘She is dressed for school now because her own class is taking part in a nativity play this afternoon. Despite the stress this has caused her she has tried to minimise the stress for others. She is going back to school so her students do not suffer.

‘This has been a life changing incident for her too. She has shown extreme remorse and as not sought to minimise her role in this particular tragic accident. She is somebody who continues to struggle to sleep and she suffers from anxiety.

‘She is terribly sorry for the impact that this has caused the victim who will have a continuing impact for the rest of his life. This incident was due to inexperience rather than irresponsibility and she made efforts to assist at the scene. A momentary lapse of concentration will affect her for the rest of her life.’

McGrory-Weger who gave an address in Londonderry, Northern Ireland was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity day. She was also banned from driving for two years and ordered to pay £274 in costs and victim surcharge.

District Judge Wendy Lloyd told her: ‘Mr Nejad is not before me in the court today but no one could fail to be moved by his victim statement.

‘He has suffered the loss of his lower leg and foot and continues to suffer profoundly, both physically and mentally. However, despite all of this, he tries to look positively towards the future in a manner that is totally commendable.’

‘Yours was a poor manoeuvre and not simply a momentary lapse of concentration. Your driving was simply not good enough. accept that you were not speeding – in fact, you were seen to be driving at an unusually slow speed which drew attention.

‘I have not been given a reason for slowing down, but I can only assume that you were not familiar with the area. The victim was vulnerable being on a motorbike and there was no opportunity for him to brake. I cannot see that his speed would make any difference to the collision.

‘I am told that you have suffered great remorse as a result of this incident. But your suffering cannot be compared with that of the victim.’

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