No jail sentence for drink driver; Man injured and dog killed in accident.

Byline: Brian Daniel

AMOTORIST who mowed down a dog walker while almost four times over the legal alcohol limit was spared jail yesterday.

Danielle McKewon, 30, of Clayport Gardens, Alnwick, hit Christopher Kelly, 45, and a Pomeranian dog which he was walking.

HGV driver Mr Kelly, of Shilbottle, was "catapulted" over a wall and suffered serious injuries, which have left him temporarily wheelchair-bound, Alnwick magistrates heard.

The car ran over the dog, which died.

Trainee social worker and single mother McKewon left the scene before police arrived.

She was later found drunk at home, arrested and gave a reading of 139 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, just under four times the legal limit of 35mg.

McKewon pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, careless driving and failing to stop after an accident.

But despite magistrates having previously stated they were considering a 26-week prison sentence, McKewon walked free from court.

Magistrates opted to suspend the sentence for two years, telling the defendant they felt she and her two sons had suffered enough already.

Last night, that decision was slammed by road safety charity Brake, which said the case "begs the question what do you actually have to do to get sent to prison".

Prosecutor James Long had told the court McKewon had been drinking in the Farrier's pub in Shilbottle, then decided to drive to her then home in the village at around 8pm on May 16.

Mr Kelly had taken his partner Alison's dog out for a walk. McKewon lost control of the Audi A6, clipped the kerb and mounted the pavement on Grange Road, hitting Mr Kelly and the dog.

The defendant left the scene but was quickly traced to the car. Mr Kelly was taken to Wansbeck General Hospital and was only released last Friday. Magistrates were told the victim's left leg was shattered from the knee downwards.

His right knee was broken and he has had surgery on both legs.

Mr Kelly will be wheelchair-bound for "some considerable time" and must rely on other people to help him with everyday tasks. The driver will also be unable to work for the foreseeable future.

Mr Long said: "He obviously has great concerns about whether he is going to be fit enough to resume that occupation in due course." Mr Kelly also suffered several broken ribs and is having to have regular injections to thin his blood. The court also heard he may have suffered nerve damage.

Defending, Michelle Lamond said her client had drunk eight to 10 cans of lager the night before the incident, and two pints in the pub that evening.

McKewon has lost her job as a result of the accident. It has also seen her separate from her partner, as a result of which she has moved house and is solely responsible for her children, aged five and 10.

The defendant was banned from driving for five years, which will be reduced to three years and nine months if she completes a drink-driver rehabilitation course. McKewon must attend a drink drivers' programme and sit an extended test before she can drive again.

She was ordered to do 300 hours' community service, will be supervised for two years and will be electronically tagged for six months, with a curfew from 8pm to 6am. She must also pay costs of pounds 70.

After the case, a spokeswoman for Brake said: "Research shows that driving is affected by alcohol even under the drink-drive limit, so to be four times over is not just irresponsible, it's playing Russian roulette with people's lives.

"Considering someone has been seriously hurt, this case begs the question what do you actually have to do to get sent to prison? The courts need to get tough on drink-drivers and send out the message this type of behaviour is dangerous and completely unacceptable."

CAPTION(S):

SPARED JAIL Danielle McKewon from Shilbottle at court yesterday.