A man has denied causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while disqualified after a pedestrian was left in a coma and paralysed in an alleged hit-and-run.

Jonathon Kalemba entered the plea when he appeared with Xavier Attuah-Ansu, 20, at Maidstone Crown Court today by TV link with Elmley Prison.

Kalemba, 22, also denies aggravated vehicle-taking along with 20-year-old Attuah-Ansu between August 26 and September 18.

They further pleaded not guilty to possessing crack cocaine worth £1,500 with intent to supply.

They were arrested after Dorota Paskuvic, 28, was struck by a stolen Ford Fiesta car in Chatham on September 18.

She was taken a London hospital, where she was placed in an induced coma. Magistrates were told four days after the incident that she would be paralysed from the neck down.

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

Judge Martin Joy set a trial date for the week beginning March 12 next year.

Attuah-Ansu, of Montgomery Avenue, Chatham, and Kalemba, of no fixed address, were remanded in custody.

The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.