THE family of Laura Watson have called a drink driver's jail sentence "not long enough" after he caused her life changing injuries.

Jack Balding was sentenced to 32 months imprisonment at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday after admitting causing the crash in Wimborne Road on the evening of February 22 this year.

After the hearing, Laura's family said they had expected Balding to receive the maximum sentence for the offence.

Her grandmother, Maureen Raven, said: "We are not happy, we thought he would get five years.

"I'm sure he is remorseful, who wouldn't be, but this is not a long enough sentence to deter others."

Sister Sarah added: "At the end of the day Laura is going to have a life sentence because of his stupidity that night, she will never be the same again.

"He can carry on with his life afterwards."

Balding, 26, was driving home having drunk five post-work pints in the pub with friends when he lost control of his Peugeot 206 and the vehicle left the road.

The car plunged through a garden fence, flipped onto its roof and came to rest, but not before striking Laura, who was walking to work at Tesco Fleetsbridge, and knocking her flying for 30 metres.

 

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Laura, now 29, sustained severe and life-changing head and leg injuries, and initially her family were warned to prepare for the worst.

She had to have part of her skull removed to reduce pressure on her brain as a result of the crash, while her left leg was broken in several places and is still secured in a medical cage.

Her mother Lisa Watson said she would have to spend at least another three months in rehabilitation in a Branksome care home.

"Nearly a year of her life has been spent battling the injuries Balding caused," she said.

"Immediately after the accident we were warned to prepare for the worst and the doctors said it was a miracle that she survived through her serious injuries.

"Laura gets very tearful that she has suffered because of him.

"The collision has been traumatic for the whole family. Laura was innocently walking along the pavement on her way to work that night.

"She phoned me before she was hit to say she had got off the bus – within nine minutes of that phone call her life had completely changed.

"I would urge everyone just to think before they get behind the wheel after drinking. Please don't do it."

Balding, of Upton Road, Poole, admitted one count of causing serious injury through dangerous driving and another of driving with a blood alcohol count of 172mg in 100ml. The legal limit is 80mg.

He was banned from driving for four years.

In mitigation, Brian Sharman said: "There can be no other outcome but an immediate custodial sentence.

"Mr Balding is prepared for this and indeed he believes he deserves it."

Sentencing, Judge Julia Clayton said it was "astonishing" Balding had believed he was fit to drive, as he told police at interview.

Of Laura, she said: "Her life and the lives of her close family will never be the same again.

"Her family faced the worst night of their lives not knowing if she would live or die."

Inspector Matt Butler, of Dorset Police’s Traffic Unit, said: "Yet again this case illustrates just how dangerous drinking and driving is and I would urge everyone not to get behind the wheel after drinking any alcohol at all.

"Even one drink can impair someone's ability to drive."