Overview
- Sandhu Ponnachan, 36, appeared Wednesday at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court and was remanded in custody for a Derby Crown Court hearing on April 29.
- Prosecutors charged him with six counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of attempted GBH with intent, dangerous driving, and possession of a bladed article.
- The collision outside the Bishop Blaise on Friar Gate, which happened around 9:30pm Saturday, left seven pedestrians with serious but not life‑threatening injuries, with four discharged and three still in hospital.
- In court, the prosecutor said he accepts he was the driver and told police he came into the city to buy pizza, and the Crown alleges he deliberately drove at people.
- Police said he was arrested seven minutes after the incident and have appealed for CCTV, dashcam or phone footage, with counter‑terrorism officers assisting but the case not treated as terrorism, and extra patrols planned for reassurance.