Ryan Patrick Wight was jailed for 21-months for an early morning hit-and-run in Nanaimo in Feb. 2020 (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Hit & run

Offender’s own home security camera leads to jail time following Nanaimo hit & run

Nov 21, 2023 | 5:23 AM

NANAIMO — A prolonged campaign of lies to family, police, and then changing his story at trial turned into a dead-end for a Nanaimo man.

Ryan Patrick Wight, 42, was given 21 months in jail followed by a maximum three-year driving ban in connection to a damaging hit-and-run causing serious injuries to a man who was struck in downtown Nanaimo nearly four years ago.

The sentence against Wight from provincial court judge Gregory Brown on Friday, Nov. 17 in Nanaimo followed a trial earlier this year in which the offender was found guilty for the incident which occurred on Feb. 16, 2020, around 2:30 a.m.

While outlining Crown counsel’s sentencing position, prosecutor Sabrina Avery told court a pedestrian was walking along Milton St. when a car driven by Wight hit him, sending him airborne.

“(He) has little recollection of the accident, he only recalls flying through the air in immense pain.”

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Wight didn’t stop while several people in the area who heard what happened called 911.

The victim was taken to hospital with multiple serious, non-life-threatening wounds, while the offender drove home in a silver Toyota sedan, evidence showed.

Surveillance video outside Wight’s home clearly showed him changing the car’s license plates, Avery told the court.

He then dumped the vehicle nearby.

Wight called his sister later in the morning, who’s the vehicle’s registered owner, claiming her car had been stolen, which Avery said was a lie he repeated several times to Nanaimo RCMP.

Police then connected the dots by obtaining valuable surveillance footage conveniently served up by the offender himself.

“If it wasn’t for the police observing the surveillance system at Mr. Wight’s residence and the subsequent review of that surveillance, the driver of the vehicle and the vehicle involved in the accident may not have ever been identified,” Avery said.

She noted Wight provided a different version of events at trial, claiming he loaned the car out at the time.

“The obstructionist efforts of Mr. Wight following the offence and how long they went on for and continue to go on for, in my submission, is extremely aggravating, so too is that motor vehicle record.”

Wight’s pre-sentence report showed he grew up in a loving home with supportive parents. However, Wight formed a severe, extended addiction to crystal meth, amounting to daily usage for about 20 years.

He had no reported mental health ailments.

Wight’s criminal record includes driving offences, featuring a pair of driving while under the influence of drug charges. Since the hit-and-run, Wight collected several additional driving infractions, including driving without a license.

Avery said the pre-sentence report showed Wight has taken limited steps to address his longstanding addiction misuse and that his reporting obligations were poor while on bail to his assigned probation officer.

She pushed for the maximum incarceration term available for the summary offence of two years in a provincial jail setting, one-year probation and a three-year driving ban.

Telling the court at trial he struggles with normal everyday life since being hit by a car, the victim said he has constant anxiety while in the presence of other people.

“Relationships suffer as I deny myself company of family and friends, feeling exhausted and withdrawn and I’m finding it difficult to cope with most daily functions as a result of the PTSD,” the victim reported.

His multitude of injuries involved a broken right fibula, ligament damage to his left ankle, neck pain and facial lacerations.

He missed work as a result, only to return with a reduced schedule and continues suffering from chronic pain.

While the absence of remorse or insight into his offending was presented to the court as mitigating factors, Wight’s lawyer Cheyne Hodson said his client has made “modest progress” in his life.

As self-reported by Wight at trial, Hodson said his client has reduced his reliance on crystal meth and moved out of the Nanaimo area.

“He’s literally uprooted his life and moved to a trailer on his mother’s property in Bowser, I understand this has been helpful for him in terms of getting away from some of his prior acquaintances who were negative influences on him,” Hodson said, who requested a jail tenure in the 15 to 18-month range.

Hodson said Wight hopes to continue making progress with his substance use issues and obtain the required training to become a funeral director.

Judge Brown said upon reviewing case law and hearing from the Crown and defence, he felt a sentence toward the upper end of the sentencing range was necessary.

“I’m not going to make a probation order, this jail term alone should send the necessary message,” judge Brown said.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes