A DRIVER who left a woman in a wheelchair when he ploughed into her as she crossed the road has been jailed for 14 months.

Brodwen Partridge sustained two fractures and was in a wheelchair for nearly four months after being hit by the Vauxhall Zafira being driven by Wayne Gloster.

She was crossing Bunns Lane on her way to work and she was about half way over when she was hit by the vehicle and tossed into the air.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Gloster, got out of the car and walked over to her but he then drove away while a young woman who had been in his vehicle stayed at the scene.

Judge Dean Kershaw told 43-year-old Gloster he should never have got behind the wheel of his vehicle, adding: "You know better than anyone that you are a poor driver.

"No-one is suggesting you set out to strike and hurt this woman but she was very badly injured

"You momentarily stopped, got out and approached where she was and then, you seemed to realise you were going to get into trouble for driving a car

when you should not have been and you left the scene."

Gloster, of French Road, admitted causing serious injury by driving while disqualified and was banned from driving for 67 months.

He also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and having no insurance and he was told by the Judge his record for motoring offences was "dreadful".

The judge added: "This offence, I think, is your tenth for driving while disqualified and you also have two convictions for dangerous driving."

Stephen Bailey, defending, said Gloster, whose record stretched back to 1990, had stayed out of trouble with the police since the offence.

"He left his daughter at the scene to do what she could and he went for help," said Mr Bailey. "He spoke to his partner who then went to the scene.

"He told me he did not go back because he was in a blind panic. This is not a man who is hiding the responsibility of what he has done."