A grandmother was left seriously injured after a pensioner pressed the accelerator instead of the brake in an automatic car.

The victim had to have the car lifted off her by members of the public after Christine Blayney, 81, stopped her Toyota Yaris on her leg.

The car had ricocheted off the Malt Shovel pub in Armley, Leeds, before hitting the pedestrian.

Prosecutor Mehran Nassiri said the collision happened just before 1.45pm on December 21, 2018.

Leeds Crown Court heard Blayney was driving home from dropping off Christmas cards at a day centre when she turned right onto Branch Road, which is a one-way road that slopes downhill.

However, she suddenly pressed the accelerator, causing her to lose control and crash into the pub, narrowly missing a male pedestrian.

But the car bounced back and went over a female pedestrian's toes.

It then collided with another female pedestrian who had a shopping basket on wheels, throwing her onto the bonnet.

The car continued for a few metres before colliding with the rear of a parked BMW.

It continued forward for a further two metres and came to stop in the centre of the road.

The victim was thrown from the bonnet then the front nearside wheels of the Toyota rolled over her legs and stopped on top of them.

Mr Nassiri said:

"Within seconds, members of public opened the Toyota’s door, pulled its hand brake then lifted the Toyota off [the victim's] legs."

A police officer attended the scene and found the defendant still in the driver's seat.

She was checked by paramedics and allowed to leave the scene.

The victim suffered cuts to her head and left elbow, a bleed on the brain, four rib fractures, a fracture to the left knee and bruises to her body but only remembered being taken by an ambulance to hospital.

In her police interview the following day, Blayney said she had gaps in her memory due to shock.

She said she was startled by an oncoming car changing its signal then she swerved to avoid a pedestrian.

She said she tried to brake but the car 'shot off'.

In a statement, the victim said she spent Christmas in hospital and was unable to visit her newborn granddaughter in February due to being housebound during her recovery.

The charity worker said she has been told she will never be able to run or kneel again.

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Blayney, of Moseley Wood Walk, Cookridge, Leeds, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

She has no previous convictions.

Probation officer Gohar Khan said the defendant was emotional and remorseful during his interview with her and is terrified of going to prison.

He said Blayney, who is married with two children and a number of grandchildren, worked for the electric board before staying home to look after the children and do voluntary work.

Simon Alexander, mitigating, said:

"She will never drive again."

Blayney was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, and disqualified from driving for three years.

Judge Simon Batiste said: "I agree with the sentiment of the victim that realistically your driving days are done."

The victim and the defendant's husband sat in the public gallery during the sentencing hearing.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, the victim said she wanted to thank the members of the public who came to her rescue.