CCTV: Drunk woman drives off with man clinging to bonnet

A WOMAN who smashed her car into an antiques shop before careering down the wrong side of the road while a man clung onto her bonnet has walked free from court.

Mandy McGuigan avoided jail today despite pleading guilty to charges of GBH, dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident following the incident.

Her victim Simon Webster, 46 - who stood in front of McGuigan’s car when he realised she was too drunk and drugged to drive, survived and was able to sit in court.

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The incident happened on June 22 last year when McGuigan went into Heathcote Antiques in Keighley to sell a picture. When she left, she accidentally reversed her car in to the shop.

Mr Webster stood in front of her car but she drove into him, carrying him along and forcing him to launch himself from the bonnet of the vehicle around 100 metres later. He sustained serious injuries.

McGuigan, of Colne, then carried on driving without knowing whether or not she had killed him.

Reacting to the 42-year-old’s 12 month sentence, suspended for two years, Mr Webster said: “She should have gone to jail. I really feel lucky to be alive.

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“I just put myself in front of the car as I didn’t want her driving in the state she was in.”

Speaking about the £750 compensation McGuigan was ordered to pay, Mr Webster added: “It’s a drop in the ocean really. I was left with a broken shoulder, lacerations to the back of my head, a part of my knee is missing and I had cuts and bruises all over my body.

“I’m just glad that she was going down the wrong side of the road as I would have been flung into a wall if she was on the right side and that definitely would have killed me.”

Bradford Crown Court heard McGuigan has mental health problems brought about by years of abusing amphetamines and drink.

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Sentencing, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall said: “This is a very unusual case and if I had been sentencing you immediately I would have put you in prison for at least 15 months.

“As you have been making good progress with different organisations I feel suspending that sentence would now not be beneficial given the circumstances.

McGuigan was given 300 hours of unpaid work, two years supervision and a three-month curfew. She was also ordered to take an extended driving test after a two year ban which was imposed at the sentencing hearing.

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