​A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison following a hit and run in the Gracemount area of Edinburgh earlier this year. 

Mateusz Podolak appeared before Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, September 29th, where he pled guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving. 

A 41-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh after a green coloured Ford Focus driven by Podolak collided into them as they stood on Captain’s Road on Thursday, July 14th. He then abandoned the vehicle and ran off from the scene prompting police in Edinburgh to launch a public appeal for information. He was later traced by officers and charged on the 30th of July. 

In addition to his custodial sentence, Podolak was also disqualified from driving for eight years after which time he will be required to sit an extended driving test. 

Sergeant Kosmas Papakyriakou of the Road Policing Unit based in Edinburgh said: “The reckless driving of Mateusz Podolak could have easily ended in tragic consequences and I wish to thank everyone who came forward and provided us with information over the course of this investigation. 

“I hope, as both injured parties continue to recover from their injuries, the sentence passed by the court provides them with a degree of closure. 

“Dangerous driving will not be tolerated by Police Scotland and I can reassure the public that we will take all necessary measures to ensure anyone involved in this sort of offence is swiftly traced and charged.”