Mum suffers horrific injuries after boozed-up teen reverses into her at ’60mph’ during ‘driving lesson’ on campsite
A MUM was left with horrific leg injuries when a boozed-up teen was given an impromptu driving lesson on a campsite and slammed into adults around the fire.
The 16-year-old girl reversed the Audi at high speed knocking over one adult and pinning Natalie Cave, 29, to the ground.
She screamed in agony as debris from the fire burned into her leg injuries.
Natalie was on the camping trip with group of friends including healthcare workers Leanne McGough, 37, and Jemma Armstrong, 35.
During the stay McGough, who is a nurse, gave the drunk 16-year-old a driving lesson in Armstrong’s Audi.
At first McGough was behind the wheel but she then allowed the girl to drive, Newcastle crown court heard.
Prosecutor Michael Bunch said: “The teenager had been described by witnesses as ‘mortal and falling over drunk’ after the group had been drinking.
“The group became aware of the Audi, being driven in reverse, at high speed, towards the fire pit.
“Some described the speed at 50-60mph, others suggested the speed was ‘excessive’.
“All witnesses effectively refer to the car being out of control. The car knocked the complainant to the ground and ran over her lower right leg, pinning her to the ground.
“Some of the contents of the fire pit became lodged in her leg.”
Mum-of-two Natalie – who had gone on the trip to celebrate her birthday – suffered a broken ankle, with nerve and ligament damage which required three ops.
‘CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL’
She spent a month in hospital and has had to quit her customer service job at Greggs.
After the crash at Dark Sky Glamping campsite, in Northumberland, last August, McGough and health support worker Armstrong, hatched a plot to hide the truth about the incident.
Armstrong told police she had been driving and McGough backed her up – but within a day they told officers the truth.
The women, both of Sunderland, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. McGough also admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
But Natalie, of Sunderland, who no longer speak to her former friends, hit out after they escaped jail.
She said: “My life has been whipped up from under my feet. It’s scarred me both physically and mentally.
“I lost my job because of my injury and I can’t do anything with my sons.
“I’m the one who has to carry this around with me for the rest of my life and they just got a slap on the wrist.
“I think they’re getting off lightly. What they put me through, they deserved a prison sentence.”
What they put me through, they deserved a prison sentence.
Natalie Cave
Andrew Finley, for McGough, said colleagues at Sunderland Royal Hospital had given references in support of her and said she was honest, thoughtful and loyal.
He added: “It was an ill judged decision for a driving lesson to take place on the field.”
Vic Laffey, for Armstrong, said she feels “huge remorse”.
Mr Recorder Richard Thyne sentenced McGough to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years, with 200 hours unpaid work.
He told her: “There would be a significant loss to Sunderland Hospital, and nursing more widely, if you did not keep your job, in the long term.”
Armstrong was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 150 hours unpaid work.
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The judge said: “There would be a harmful effect on numerous others, family members, patients and others in the event of an immediate custodial sentence.”
The teenager, who can’t be named for legal reasons, will be sentenced at the youth court later.
The other woman who was hit by the car was not injured.
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