A driver who caused an accident that left an elderly woman with life-changing injuries has avoided a jail sentence.

Gloria Reece was crossing the road to go to her car in Rock Avenue in Gillingham when she was hit by Jason Wheeler’s Nissan 350Z sports car.

The victim, said to be in her 60s, suffered eight fractured ribs, fractures to her pelvis, an arm and leg, as well as facial fractures. Her teeth were knocked out.

She was taken to King’s College Hospital in London and was still being treated there two months later.

Wheeler, of Court Lodge Road, Gillingham, told police he was travelling at 30-40mph when he saw Mrs Reece run across the road, at 12.30pm on May 12, 2016.

He said he swerved to try avoid her in the middle of the road, but she was hit by the front of his car.

The 28-year-old plumber pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving on the day of his trial last month.

Judge Martin Huseyin then gave an indication that he would not impose immediate imprisonment.

He said when passing sentence: “There is a mismatch between the level of harm and culpability.”

The judge said of the victim: “They were life changing injuries and she is lucky to be alive.”

The reason he gave the sentencing indication, he said, was because the case had changed “so dramatically”.

Philip Rowley, defending, said Wheeler understood the gravity of the offence. He had since sold the car and his father lent him money to pay off the finance.

Suspending 24 weeks – almost six months - imprisonment for two years with 160 hours unpaid work, Judge Huseyin admitted: “It may seem odd in the way I have sentenced this case.”

He added: “The fact is, the victim was an elderly person. The defendant was driving with excess speed but not greatly excess speed.

“The basis of plea accepted was that he failed to properly keep a lookout as opposed to excessive or aggravated driving. The injuries were out of proportion to the culpability of the offence.

“It is for those reasons I have taken the course I have. Had it been pursued by the Crown this was aggressive driving the case would have been dealt with in an entirely different way.”

Wheeler was banned from driving for two years and will have to take an extended test before being allowed back on the road. He was given 18 months to pay £1,500 costs.

He has since admitted four offences of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of children after flashing at schoolgirls and performing a sex act while sitting the same car.

He was sentenced in January last year to 16 months imprisonment suspended for two years with 150 hours unpaid work. He was also fined £750 and ordered to pay the four victims £250 compensation each.

He committed the offences in October 2015 when children were walking to school in Gillingham.