A HARD-HITTING campaign warning motorists against drink-driving will be launched on December 1 by Dorset Police.

The Christmas and New Year campaign runs until January 1 and offenders have been warned about the tough penalties for offending and that details and pictures of drink drivers will be released to the media.

The campaign is supported by Lisa Watson, the mother of a 29-year-old woman who suffered terrible injuries when she was mown down by drink driver Jack Balding in Poole.

In October, Balding was jailed for 32-months after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving and drink driving. The court heard he had drunk five pints of lager before getting behind the wheel.

His victim, Laura Watson, spent nearly seven weeks in an induced coma, had numerous operations and is now in residential care receiving physical rehabilitation.

Lisa said her daughter now has to use a wheelchair and lives in a residential care home. She has pins, a plate and a frame on her leg and may never walk again.

"Laura had three operations on her brain – the last of those three involved the removal of part of her skull, which was stored in her abdomen so that it could be put back once the swelling had gone down. We are left wondering what sort of life she will have now" said Lisa.

Lisa added: "If Jack Balding could have afforded to buy those drinks, he could have afforded the taxi home rather than driving. What shocked us was that he said he didn’t even know he’d hit her and that, after five pints he didn’t think he was over the limit.

"Laura has the life sentence here – not the man who sat behind the wheel after drinking. There’s absolutely no way anybody should drive if they’ve had a drink. If you do, you are putting other people’s lives at risk and that is so selfish."

Throughout the campaign there will be increased traffic patrols and roadside checks with all drivers involved in a collision to be breath-tested.

Penalties include a minimum 12-month driving ban, a criminal record, up to six months in prison and a fine of up to £5,000.

Inspector Matt Butler said: "I have seen far too many crashes that have been caused by the irresponsible few who think they are above the law and will drink and drive. No one deserves to lose their life because of someone else’s stupidity."

He urged people to call the police on 101, or 999 immediately, if they suspect someone is drink or drug driving. Follow the progress of the drink drive campaign on Twitter @dorsetpolice #DPXmasdrinkdrive and facebook.com/dorsetpolice.