A drug-dealer who caused a pedestrian “catastrophic” injuries in a hit and run in a Medway street is facing a jail sentence.

Jonathon Kalemba had denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving but today changed his plea to guilty.

The 22-year-old, of no fixed address, also admitted driving while disqualified, failing to stop and having no insurance.

Kalemba was jointly charged with Xavier Attuah-Ansu, 20, of Montgomery Avenue, Chatham, and they were due to stand trial this month.

But after Kalemba entered his guilty pleas, the prosecution offered no evidence against Attuah-Ansu. He is, however, to be sentenced with Attuah-Ansu for drug dealing offences.

Their not guilty pleas to aggravated vehicle taking was accepted.

Veterinary surgeon Dorota Paskuvic, 28, was left in a coma and paralysed from the neck down in after being mowed down by the stolen Ford Fiesta in Chatham on September 18 last year.

Police were following the car when it struck her in Manor Road just after 7pm. The car was later abandoned in nearby New Cut at the junction with Railway Street.

Prosecutor Don Ramble said despite Ms Paskuvic’s catastrophic injuries she wished to be present to read a victim statement at the sentencing hearing on April 19.

“She relies on a wheelchair and I understand the lifts at the court are not functioning,” he said.

Judge Philip St John-Stevens said the court would also need an up-to-date report on her medical condition.

A friend and colleague of the victim at the PDSA animal hospital in Gillingham has started a crowdfunding page to raise £25,000 to help her financially.

Kalemba also admitted possessing crack cocaine worth £1,500 with intent to supply the same day. No evidence was offered against Attuah-Ansu on that charge.

Kalemba further admitted two offences of offering to supply cocaine to an undercover police officer on September 12 and 14.

Attuah-Ansu pleaded guilty to seven offences of supplying heroin and cocaine to undercover officers between June 1 and 15.