A woman suffered leg and spinal injuries after being run down by a car as she crossed the road near Canterbury West Station.

As a result of her injuries, Jennifer Harrop, 58, had to wear a spinal brace for three months and is still undergoing treatment.

The driver of the Mercedes that hit her was 22-year-old university student Issac Aumjaud, who appeared for sentence at Canterbury Crown Court having admitted dangerous driving on November 23, last year.

Aumjaud, of Horncastle Road, Lee, South London was sentenced to 17 weeks, suspended for 18 months with 200 hours unpaid work.

He was banned for 18 months and must take an extended driving text and pay £723 costs.

William Eaglestone, prosecuting, said Aumjaud overtook a line of stationary traffic waiting at the level crossing and turned right into Station Road West at about 30mph, according to witnesses.

It was about 10.15pm. Mrs Harrop was crossing the road and was hit by the Mercedes and thrown to the ground where she lay in pain and unable to move.

As well as fractured vertabrae and fibular she suffered soft tissue damage and was off work for months.

In a victim impact statement she said she suffered flashbacks and nightmares and had to take anti-depressants.

Graham Irving, for Aumjaud, said he was studying criminal psychology. It was his birthday and he borrowed his father’s car to see his grandmother.

Seeing traffic at a standstill he took a decision which turned out to be a dangerous one, said Mr Irving.

He said the injuries were not caused by excessive speeding but by rapid pulling away and there were no other aggravating features such as drink or drugs, nor was it a prolonged course of bad driving.

“From the outset he was very concerned about the affects of his actions on the victim,” said Mr Irving.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael O’Sullivan said: “This happened in a few moments of driving which has had these dreadful consequences and there has to be a prison sentence.

“You will have to live with the consequences of this matter for the rest of your life.”