A DRUNK woman who drove the wrong way down a motorway, injuring another, has avoided jail.

Dorothy Denny, 65, had been drinking vodka at home for six hours on October 4 last year before getting in her Mini to drive to a garage to buy more alcohol.

Instead, she drove onto the exit road at junction 8 of the M5, heading south on the northbound carriageway.

Driving the other way was personal trainer Carley Pope, from Birmingham, who was hurt in the crash.

Denny was fined £10,000 and given a 20-month suspended prison sentence term at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday (May 19).

The judge, Recorder Neil Millard commented: “No driver on that motorway would have been expecting to have a set of headlights heading towards them.

“I am amazed that nobody was killed.”

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Worcester News: Denny pictured leaving Gloucester Crown Court after receiving a suspended sentence and £10k fine Denny pictured leaving Gloucester Crown Court after receiving a suspended sentence and £10k fine (Image: GNS)

The court heard that Ms Pope, an athlete and personal trainer, was taken to hospital and treated for broken bones in her wrist, whiplash injuries and bruising. 

Her injuries have had a major impact on her ability to work or take part in athletic events.

Denny meanwhile failed a roadside breath test and was taken to hospital, suffering from broken ribs.

Blood tests taken some hours later found she had 142 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood – the legal limit being 80 mgs.

The court was shown CCTV footage of the collision, after which Recorder Millard observed: “It’s incredible that nobody was killed as there was a large number of vehicles behind Ms Pope, mainly heavy goods lorries.

Amber Morrell, defending, told the court Denny, of Blenheim Drive, Bredon, is 'extremely remorseful' and is 'mortified to find herself in this position.'

She said: “She realised she had made a mistake and didn’t know what to do and how to correct it.

“This was not a case of dangerous driving with a flagrant disregard of the rules.”

Recorder Millard interjected: “I disagree. She is driving a weapon.”

Ms Morrell said Denny had turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism following a trauma in her life. She has since abstained from driving and voluntarily surrendered her driving licence and self-certified that she is not medically fit to drive.

Denny admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving between October 4/5, 2022 and causing serious injury to Ms Pope on the M5 southbound carriageway and driving while intoxicated through alcohol on the same occasion.

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In sentencing Denny to a 20-month prison term, suspended for two years, Recorder Millard told her: “You have avoided being sent immediately to prison by the smallest of margins as you have shown genuine remorse; there is a prospect of rehabilitation and sending you to prison would serve no realistic purpose."

As well as a fine, the judge banned Denny from driving for ten years asking her: “Do you understand how lucky you are to be here and that you are not dead? Do you understand how lucky all the other road users are that night on the motorway, on the way to the petrol station?

“You may be shocked by the level of the £10,000 fine, but you are alive and are very fortunate not to be taken down into the cells and on your way to prison.”

The judge ordered that Denny take an extended retest if she decides to begin driving again after she has served her disqualification period.

Recorder Millard ordered that Denny attend 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and be subjected to a four-month alcohol treatment order.

Denny’s driving licence will be endorsed for the drink driving offence.