A SINGLE mum has been jailed for 12 months for seriously injuring an off duty policeman who saw her driving erratically and tried to stop her.

Jemma Whibley, 35, was found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Knights Road in Bournemouth following a trial in December, Bournemouth Crown Court heard yesterday.

The court was told DC Bryan Whiting found Whibley, of Oakhurst Road in West Moors, using her phone, lethargic and smelling of alcohol after she pulled over her blue BMW on March 2.

He stood in front of her car when she tried to drive off and she hit him, causing him to fall onto the bonnet. As he then tried to remove her keys from the ignition Whibley pulled away with DC Whiting still hanging out of the window.

She hit a van travelling in the opposite direction breaking DC Whiting’s foot and causing ligament damage. He was off work for four months.

Whibley pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle while over the limit with 130mg in 100ml in breath - 3.7 times the legal limit - at an earlier hearing. The court heard she’d been convicted of drink-driving in 2002.

Judge Peter Johnson disqualified her from driving for four years and ordered her to take an extended driving test. She was also jailed for two months, to run concurrently, for drink-driving and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.

“There was little if any remorse shown at the trial,” he said. “You were, in my judgement, blaming Mr Whiting for what was clearly your responsibility.”

Mitigating was Frank Abbott who said Whibley was prone to anxiety and depression.

“She has given up alcohol and completely changed her life. At the time of this incident she was in a very dark place,” he said.

Judge Johnson commended Mr Whiting for trying to intervene.

Speaking after the case, DC Whiting said: “I hope it sends a clear message to anyone who considers driving after drinking alcohol. Sadly there are no winners in this incident. I continue to suffer the consequences of that evening while Jemma Whibley’s family have been left to pick up the pieces following her decision to drink and drive.”