He seriously injured a pedestrian after crashing into her - and then drove away

A careless driver who seriously injured a pedestrian in a town centre went into a "blind panic" and drove away, a court heard today. Liam Davies turned into Rhyl High Street and hit Susan Butterworth, breaking her leg.

The 29-year-old admitted causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention. Llandudno magistrates today gave him a suspended jail sentence and a community punishment.

Prosecutor Rachael Drew told the court Davies was driving an Audi along Wellington Road when he turned right into the high street in the town centre on October 20 last year. He failed to stop and members of the public gave the casualty first aid.

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Police were called and officers took Mrs Butterworth, who is retired, to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan for treatment. You can sign up for all the latest court stories here

Davies drove home and was arrested later. He admitted causing serious injury by driving without due care and attention.

In a victim statement Mrs Butterworth told how she sustained two fractures of her right knee, a fracture of her right femur, cuts and concussion. She had to wear a cast and leg brace for eight weeks.

She said: "The driver should have stopped and checked on me - that would have meant a lot to me." Now if a car comes close to her she becomes nervous. Her family help her with shopping.

Nia Dawson, defending Davies, of Kinmel Street, Rhyl, said: "He went through a green light (and) the lady stepped onto the road. He should have seen her.

"The weather conditions were really bad. He has flashbacks wishing he had seen her and this would never have happened." Mrs Dawson said her client had been under a "particularly great amount of stress" and had been on his way to collect medication.

She added: "He thinks that's why he did not do the right thing and stop. He knows in his heart that he should have stopped. He was in a blind panic."

She also said that the fact that the case has taken as long as eleven months to come to court "beggars belief". Today the court also heard that Davies was given a community order in June for a common assault.

The court heard Davies is making progress on that community order. Bench chairman David Subacchi told the defendant there is a prospect of rehabilitation.

He gave him a 16-week jail term, suspended for 18 months. He must do 100 hours of unpaid work and attend 40 hours of rehabilitation activity.

He must also pay £85 costs and a £154 surcharge. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

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