A 36-year-old driver has been banned from driving for a year and fined more than £800 after a woman was injured in a crash.

Before Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Thursday was Briony Butler, 36, of Bute Court in Haverhill who was sentenced after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving.

The crash happened at the Withersfield Road junction with Crowland Road in Haverhill on September 13, 2022.

The court heard Ms Butler thought the victim was indicating left and pulled out into the road causing the collision.

The victim, aged 69, sustained life-changing injuries and maintains she did not indicate left.

In a statement read out to the court, the victim said the injuries included a broken spine and ribs.

“I am still in pain,” she said.

“I used to regularly walk my dog, but I’ve had to ask a charity to provide this service for me.

“Initially I could net get upstairs to go to bed so I had to sleep down the stairs on a sofa.

“I still struggle with my stability.”

She added that the crash had made her nervous about driving so she only makes short journeys.

In mitigation the court heard the defendant entered a guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.

She waited at the scene of the accident to call the ambulance and also attended a voluntary interview at the police station.

Ms Butler has no previous convictions and was described as a “hard working mum”.

In addition to the driving ban she was ordered to pay costs of £891.