School crash driver who ploughed into mum sentenced

Philip Gambles was handed a 23-month jail term suspended for two years

A motorist who drove through a red light and ploughed into a mum outside a school has been handed a suspended jail term.

Philip Gambles, 53, struck Katrina McDonald while she was on a pedestrian crossing in Workington, Cumbria.

Shocking CCTV footage played at Carlisle Crown Court showed her catapult into the air in front of shocked parents and children near Victoria infant and junior school.

Recorder Julian Shaw told Gambles, who received a 23-month jail term suspended for two years, it was "a mercy" she was not killed.

Following the crash on 17 November 2022, Ms McDonald was sedated, placed in a coma and did not regain consciousness for nearly a week.

Her injuries included fractures to her pelvis, spine and skull, requiring her home to be modified to accommodate her recovery needs.

'Deserves jail'

Ms McDonald, 42, was alone at the time, but prosecutor Gerard Rogerson said her nephew who was supposed to be with her was “fortunately" late back from the shops.

The victim said while she wished no harm to the driver, she believed he deserved to go to jail.

"This impacted every part of my life and has led to some long-term effects which I imagine will stay with me and my children for a while,” she added.

Before seeing the CCTV, Gambles initially sought to place the blame on her, saying she stepped out in front of him.

He later admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

“He is sorry,” said his solicitor Sean Harkin.

Recorder Shaw, passing sentence, told Gambles: “It is a mercy that she wasn’t killed, albeit she has to live with the consequences of your dangerous driving for the rest of her life.”

As well as the suspended jail sentence, Gambles, of Newlands Drive, Workington, must complete 280 hours’ unpaid work and observe a 12-month curfew.

He was also given a 21-month driving ban and must complete an extended re-test before regaining his licence.