A DRINK driver threw a mum 'the length of a cricket pitch' out the way of the speeding car, leaving her with life-changing injuries to her head, pelvis, leg and spleen.

Rebecca Sharp was thrown ‘like a rag-doll’ after being hit by a Toyota driven by Dale Clark, a court heard.

The 36-year-old mum of three spent two months in a coma after the crash on April 11 as a result of her near fatal head injuries.

She had ‘miraculously’ managed to push her 11-month-old daughter out of the path of the car.

Bournemouth Echo: Rebecca Sharp with husband Daniel after the sentencing hearing this morning.

Dale Clark ‘swerved’ from one lane to another before hitting Rebecca Sharp at the pelican crossing at the gyratory in the Redhill area, while travelling over the 30 miles per hour speed limit.

Prosecuting, Andrew Houston told how Clark, 38, had had ‘girls and drugs on the mind’ and had been messaging a drug dealer on the morning of the crash.

Mrs Sharp had dropped her two oldest children off at a holiday camp in Winton and was looking to cross the road on Redhill Avenue with her youngest child in a push chair.

Clark, of York Avenue, New Milton, was travelling in the right-hand lane but at the last minute ‘swerved’ into the left-hand lane, which Mrs Sharp was crossing.

Miraculously, Mrs Sharp was able to push the buggy out of the way, before being hit by Clark’s car.

She was rushed to Southampton hospital via air ambulance, arriving in a vegetative state.

The defendant ‘panicked’ and fled the scene. He was arrested later that afternoon.

Dale pleaded guilty to causing serious injuries to Mrs Sharp, failing to stop, and drink driving.

The court heard that Clark was using his phone as a sat nav and was not paying attention. Police found two empty bottles of cider in his car when they searched it.

CCTV footage played in at a sentencing hearing on Monday, October 23 at Bournemouth Crown Court, Clark was seen travelling at more than 40 miles per hour, shortly before arriving at the traffic lights.

After hitting Mrs Sharp, Clark drove away, and continued to speed as he returned to New Milton.

Victim personal statements read out by Daniel Sharp, Rebecca’s husband, and her father said she was ‘bright, vivacious, generous and kind’ and was the ‘light of our lives’.

Rebecca is now living predominantly in Poole Hospital, but the family said there is a ‘glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel’.

She is now mostly wheelchair bound after her injuries and is continuing her rehab from the hospital, which doctors say is likely to take years.

Alan, Rebecca’s father, said: “The agony continues but we live in hope.”

Mitigating, Nick Robinson said Clark had shown clear remorse, and had taken refuge in drink and drugs after he had split up with his partner and mother of his two young children.

Mr Robinson said Clark felt that ‘sorry was simply not enough’ and that he ‘understands the severity and seriousness of his actions’.

Judge William Mousley KC said Rebecca’s life ‘has been changed seriously, forever.’ He said the impact on the family was ‘monumental’.

Judge Mousley said: “I would like to recognise the courage shown by Rebecca Sharp and her family.”

Clark was jailed for three years and eight months. He will serve half behind bars, before being released on licence.

He has also been banned from driving for six years after release and will need to take an extended test.

Speaking after the sentencing, detective constable Michelle Underwood, of the Dorset Police traffic unit, said: “Dale Clark’s actions on Tuesday 11 April 2023 have left a mother with serious life-changing injuries and it could have been even worse as it is only through pure good fortune that the young child was not harmed in this incident.

“We see all too often the devastating impacts that are caused by motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and at excessive speed. Drivers need to understand that when they are behind the wheel, they are in control of a potentially lethal machine and reckless actions such as this can have truly horrific consequences.

“I would like to thank the members of the public who supported the victim on the day of the collision and provided reassurance, as well as the witness who memorised the registration plate.”

Andrew Coley, senior crown prosecutor for CPS Wessex, added: “This incident has shattered the lives of Mrs Sharp and her family.

“It is especially shocking that when Clark saw Mrs Sharp on the ground with her young child nearby, he chose not to stop and instead left her for dead.

“The CPS worked closely with Dorset Police to build a solid case against Clark – using CCTV evidence to disprove his false claims that he was not above the legal drink drive limit at the time of the collision.

“Our thoughts are with Mrs Sharp and her family, and we wish her all the best in her recovery.”