A mother whose son was rushed to hospital on a spinal board after being hit by a drunk driver has blasted the “soft punishment” handed out by magistrates.
Tania Allen, of Saddlebrook Park, Leysdown, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath and driving without due care and attention on December 3, 2009.
She was sentenced at Sittingbourne Magistrates on March 3 where she received a 16-month driving ban and a £550 fine.
The court heard how the 47-year-old drank several glasses of wine with work colleagues but despite knowing she could be over the legal limit chose to drive her BMW home.
On route she rammed into the back of Shane Faulkener’s motorbike in Eastchurch High Street flinging him from his seat and wedging the bike under Allen’s car.
As her 21-year-old victim was rushed to hospital with suspected injuries to his head and spine, Allen, who police said stunk of booze, failed to give a breath test on three occasions, sucking and puffing on the breathalyzer and holding her breath.
While she faces a £550 fine, Shane continues to repay the £3,000 loan he took to buy his dream bike, which is now a mangled mess.
Speaking after the trial Shane’s mum Karen Faulkener, of Manor Road, Queenborough, said: “I was in bed when I got a call to say my son was being rushed to hospital. My stomach lurched and I felt sick. It’s every mother’s nightmare.
“He was crying and in pain and said he was really scared. He told us he thought he was going to die when he saw the wheels of her car. It was a horrific ordeal.
“When I found out it was a drunken woman driving the car I was appalled. I hoped today we’d get justice but I don’t feel like this is the case. It was a soft punishment. I think a 16 month ban and a fine is pathetic.
“That woman has never once said sorry. She’s shown no remorse or regret apart from how it’s affected her life. In court today all we heard was how her job has been affected or how she has had attention from the press but has she stopped to think how our lives have been affected?
“My son is still suffering from his injuries. He gets flashbacks and has to see a physiotherapist because he is still has pain from his back and neck injuries.”
Mrs Faulkener says although Shane, who studied at Minster college and now works as a fabricator, received an insurance payout it a was not enough to replace his bike.
She added: “It’s sickening that essentially the accident has cost Shane more than her. He has months left on his original loan but is driving a second hand bike.”
Allen, who works at Barclays bank Sittingbourne, must now wait to hear if she will lose her job of nineteen years. The company is conducting an internal investigation to decide if her future with the firm is tenable now that she has a criminal record.
However, Mrs Faulkener has no sympathy for Allen‘s plight. “16 months is nothing. She should have been given a four or five year ban or at the very least be made to take her driving test again. I have no sympathy for her.”
POSTED: 10/03/2010 10:00:00
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