Archive - Wednesday, 12 June 2002


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Mum's anger at verdict

THE angry mum of a teenager who was injured in a road accident has described a verdict by magistrates as 'unbelievably lenient.'

Motorist Deborah Cunningham of Thompson Road, Uplands, has been fined £50 and banned from driving for six months.

Her car collided with Teresa Reid,13 in April when the youngster suffered a broken toe, a broken arm and a blow to the head.

"I'm just amazed at how lenient it is," said Teresa's mum, Christine. "I thought she would be off the road for some time,"

And she added: "I find it quite unbelievable."

She said her daughter is only just getting back to normal.

"Teresa could not move for a week. The bandages have only just been stopped being changed every second day."

She said her daughter's knock on the head too meant she has not been able to concentrate or attend school since the accident.

Cunningham, 34, pleaded guilty to two charges - driving without due care, and driving without insurance when she appeared before magistrates in Stroud on Friday, May 31. She also pleaded not guilty to failing to stop after an accident and that charge was dismissed through lack of evidence.

After the accident on Saturday, April 20, police told the SNJ that a Volkswagen Golf and a Vauxhall Vectra were in collision on Folly Lane. The Golf collided the 13-year-old girl who needed hospital treatment.

Mrs Reid said this week that before Teresa was injured, she was walking with friends when she heard a car hit another car.

The elderly driver and passenger of the Vectra from Stroud were also taken to hospital for treatment to whiplash injuries.

The Golf driver from Stroud was also taken to Stroud Hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

The road was closed for around four hours while police accident investigators worked at the scene.