A man who deliberately drove his car at a young Ludlow mother in the town centre throwing her in the air "like a rag doll" has been jailed for 8 years.

Kelly Lysy survived the impact but suffered serious injuries, including a broken knee, fractures to her pelvis and lower spine and cuts and bruising to her head.

Car driver 28-year-old Stephen Cross was said to have been "extremely drunk" and turned his MG Rover around in the Bull Ring before steering the car towards the victim.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday Judge Jim Tindal told Cross he had an appalling driving record dating back more than 10 years and treated cars as a 'play thing' and getting a thrill from driving in a dangerous manner.

"This time you put yourself in a car in circumstances in which you were clearly unfit to drive, severely intoxicated and may have had drugs," he said.

Judge Tindal said Cross saw it as another opportunity to drive "like a maniac" and go to court having not done any real harm.

"However, you caused serious life changing injuries to Kelly Lysy having deliberately driven at her and her friend in the road. You may have been aiming for her friend, but hit her, and you had intended to cause serious injury," he said.

Judge Tindal said the case was aggravated by the defendant's driving record, deliberately using the car as a weapon, the injuries caused and failing to face up to what he had done.

"It is almost as bad as killing someone. Miss Lysy must live the rest of her life with the consequences of what you did," he said.

The court heard Cross had admitted charges of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm on Miss Lysy and causing her serious injury by dangerous driving in October, 2014.

In addition to the prison sentence Cross, formerly of Bartley Green, Birmingham and now of Whitton Grove, Weoley Castle, was banned from driving for 10 years and must take en extended driving test.

Miss Laura Culley, prosecuting, said that that the victim had been out with friends and they had seen Cross and companions in a car driving at speed in Sandpit Road and told him to slow down.

Later, in the early hours of October 10, 2014, the victim and her friends were at the Bull Hotel in Ludlow.

The defendant and his group were there and were involved in "boisterous" and "drunken behaviour" and were asked to leave.

One of Miss Lysy's friends, Dan Weaver, was then heard shouting outside telling the defendant to slow down and he was holding onto the car.

Miss Culley said as it drove off Mr Weaver fell into the road and Miss Lysy went to help him. At this point Cross had turned his car around and deliberately drove at them.

"The car just missed Mr Weaver, but hit Miss Lysy full on and she was thrown into the air like a rag doll. The car did not stop and drove off," she said.

Police later traced the car in Birmingham and the defendant was arrested. He said he had been extremely drunk and his recollection was poor and denied there had been any accident.

He was later charged and was due in court in April last year, but did not attend and went on the run for around six months before being found in November last year.

The court heard he had never held a full driving licence, had convictions for dangerous driving, drunk driving, driving while disqualified and without insurance and, in 2014, was convicted for producing cannabis.

Mr Arvind Sharma, for Cross, said his client had now accepted his responsibility for his foolish actions and had written a letter to the court expressing his remorse.

He said that in the letter Cross "deeply regretted" what happened and daily his heart and thoughts went out to the victim and he was sorry she remained unwell and for what she and her children had gone through.

The court had heard that 24-year-old Miss Lysy, a mother-of-two, faced another three to five years before she may be fully recovered from her injuries.

She was in hospital for three weeks after the incident and her damaged left knee was still held together with pins and screws.

In addition she suffered flashbacks, nightmares and panic attacks and remained on painkillers and was seeking counselling for anxiety.

For many months she had to live in a caravan on her mother's driveway because she could not get up and down the stairs at her home in Sidney Road, Ludlow, and her and her mobility remained poor.

After yesterday's hearing Miss Lysy said she pleased the case was now over and she could try and forget it.

"I want to get on with my life now and I am attending pain clinic to get off all the tablets so I can attempt to get a job," she said.

Miss Lysy said she took some comfort from the words read in court from Cross and that he accepted what he had done.

No compensation was ordered by the court but Miss Lysy is seeking legal advice over possible civil action in respect of her injuries and the long term impact of her condition.