THE family of an 81-year-old woman who was severely injured after being knocked down by an 89-year-old have spoken of their anger after the motorist escaped a driving ban.

Winifred Owen, of Bradley Road, Warminster, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention following the incident on January 24 in the car park of the Conservative Club in Warminster.

Chippenham Magistrates’ Court heard how Owen was reversing out of the Prestbury Drive car park in her Suzuki Splash after a night of bingo when she hit Maureen Duff, leaving her with a fractured hip, a fractured arm, bruising and swelling.

Owen received six points on her licence and was ordered to pay a £190 fine, but did not receive a driving ban, to the disgust of Mrs Duff’s granddaughter Sarah Cox.

Mrs Duff, of Kyngeston Court care home in Warminster, spent months at the Royal United Hospital in Bath before receiving rehabilitation at Warminster Community Hospital.

Her granddaughter said she is still unable to wash herself and relies heavily on her family. The 31-year-old mum-of-three said: “My poor grandma has been through so much just because that woman couldn’t be bothered to look behind her or demist her windows, but she has shown no remorse.

“She spent nearly four months in hospital after the incident and is now suffering with mental health problems because she’s been inside for so long. Despite being slowly on the mend, She still can’t lift her arm or walk unaided.

“The fact that the woman is still allowed on the road after what happened is shocking and absolutely gutting. What good is six points on her licence going to do?

“In my opinion she has got away with it due to her age. If someone my age had done it the punishment would have been far more severe.”

Prosecuting, Michelle Hewitt said: “The officers examined the defendant’s car and there was no damage to the vehicle, but all the windows and external mirrors were covered in condensation, only the front windscreen had been cleaned.”

Mr Hills, defending, said: “This has knocked her sideways, the thought she reversed into pedestrians.

“She wiped the front screen and started edging out with lights on and engine running when the two ladies appeared from the club and walked behind her car.

“She seemed to be totally unaware that she had struck anyone and there was no indication that she had struck anyone.

“If you strike a person you’re not going to be able to feel any impact.”

Chairman of the bench Nick Stephens told Owen at the hearing on Thursday that she had an obligation to clean her windows.

“Your own solicitor has said that you weren’t aware that you had hit someone, which makes it worse,” he said.