Jailed: 'Maniac' driver who drove car at a mother throwing her into the air 'like a rag doll'

Kelly Lysy, of Sidney Road, Ludlow, survived the impact but suffered serious injuries, including a broken knee, fractures to her pelvis and lower spine and cuts and bruising to her head.

Stephen Cross, 28, was said to have been "extremely drunk" and turned his MG Rover around in the Bull Ring in Ludlow before steering towards the victim.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Judge Jim Tindal told Cross he had an appalling driving record dating back more than 10 years and treated cars as a "play thing", getting a thrill from driving in a dangerous manner.

"This time you put yourself in a car in circumstances in which you were clearly unfit to drive, severely intoxicated and may have had drugs," he said.

Judge Tindal said Cross saw it as another opportunity to drive "like a maniac" and go to court having not done any real harm.

"However, you caused serious life changing injuries to Kelly Lysy having deliberately driven at her and her friend in the road.

"You may have been aiming for her friend but hit her, and you had intended to cause serious injury," he said.

The court heard Cross had admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Miss Lysy and causing her serious injury by dangerous driving in October 2014.

Cross, of Weoley Castle, was also banned from driving for 10 years and must take an extended driving test.

Mr Arvind Sharma, for Cross, said his client had now accepted his responsibility for his foolish actions and had written a letter to the court expressing his remorse.

He said that in the letter Cross "deeply regretted" what happened and daily his heart and thoughts went out to the victim. He was sorry she remained unwell and what she and her children had gone through.

The court had heard that 24-year-old Miss Lysy, a mother-of-two, faced another three to five years before she fully recovered from her injuries.