Teacher paralysed when she was knocked her off her bicycle by car heartbreakingly declares 'my body now disgusts me' - as teenage motorist who hit her avoids jail

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

A teacher who was paralysed after a teenage university student knocked her off her bike has said her body now 'disgusts' her, as the driver avoids jail.
Teacher and A Level examiner Catherine Mills, 53, suffered multiple injuries after 19-year old motorist Leah MacKinnon pulled out in front of her at a road junction without looking.
Mrs Mills was thrown over the bonnet of MacKinnon's Ford Fiesta and was left with a dislocated shoulder, broken shoulder blades, broken ribs and damaged tendons.
She was paralysed in her left arm after suffering nerve damage, with only a 70 per cent chance of recovery.
She said she cannot see if her 'life is worth living' the the damage turns out to be permanent.
Inquiries revealed MacKinnon who had been visiting a college friend in Macclesfield, Cheshire failed to look to her right as she pulled out of a side street.
As the victim was being treated at the roadside, the youngster was heard repeatedly shouting: 'I am sorry' to the point she had a panic attack.
MacKinnon, from Worcester admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Crewe Magistrates Court.
Mrs Mills's Oxford educated husband Dr John Mills, 64, who used to work as a Diagnostic Expert in the Oncology Unit at AstraZeneca in Cambridge, watched from the public gallery as the Bristol University student was given 180 hours of unpaid work.
In a statement read to the court the victim said: 'My upper arm is paralysed and I have only a 70 per cent chance of regaining some function. It may take up to two years and may require another intervention. I am really struggling with this.
'I feel I am a burden on others, particularly my husband. I need help to wash, dress and cut up food.
'My arm is hanging like a dead thing and my body now disgusts me. The pain has also been constant since the incident despite the painkillers.
'I have not slept through since the accident. If the nerve damage and neurological pain prove to be permanent I cannot see life is worth living.'
Mrs Mills who lives in Prestbury near Wilmslow said she has been suffering nightmares in which she relives the moment the car hit her.
'I was part of a local road bike club cycling 100 miles a week,' she added: 'If not cycling, I was running, or training in the gym. All this has stopped and my self esteem has plummeted.
'I have painful physiotherapy exercises four times a day which need my husband's assistance and I have little energy for anything else.
'Even if nerve damage eventually heals, following the accident, I risk a dislocated shoulder again.
'The idea of getting on a bike, something that used to give me joy, now scares me. I do not recognise myself anymore. I am ashamed of who I have become.'
The court heard Dr Mills and their three children have a hereditary eye condition which means they rely on her as a driver.
'My role in life is my husband's carer,' she said, 'I was always the driver in my family, helping them to achieve a level of independence.
'Now I cannot drive, possibly for the rest of my life, both my husband's life and my children's life have gotten harder and smaller.
'There is much less social contact than before, having to justify the cost of a taxi. I see signs of depression in my husband now. He is struggling to cope. I am also an A-level chemistry examiner and I am unable to work on this year's series.
'My left arm is paralysed and I cannot mark at the speed needed. I am a forced to type with one finger. That has impacted financially as well as taking away a sense of being independent. I may never work again in this role.'
The incident occurred at 2.55pm on December 28 last year when MacKinnon was on Oak Road waiting to pull out onto Chelford Road.
Miss Sarah McInerney, prosecuting, said: 'Mrs Mills had priority on the main road on a bicycle and was wearing safety equipment and had a flashing headlight. She saw the defendant stop at a junction then look left but not right.
'She then pulled out of the junction and collided with Mrs Mills causing substantial injuries. The victim was taken to Macclesfield Hospital orthopaedic ward, suffering from nerve damage and fractured shoulder blades.
'There are ongoing injuries and the victim has asked me to convey to the court the treatment is ongoing at this stage. It is uncertain if she will regain function in the arm.
'The Crown accepts it was a momentary lapse in concentration on the part of the defendant but it is clear this has had a significant impact on Mrs Mills' life.'
In mitigation, defence solicitor Amy Edwards said: 'Miss MacKinnon stopped at the junction and the cyclist came from her right. She pulled out of the junction and the cyclist went over the bonnet.
'She accepts she should have been more careful but from the moment it happened this defendant is remorseful and was repeatedly shouting 'I am sorry' to the victim, to the point where she has a panic attack and taken back to her car by the police officer. She is incredibly remorseful.'
'At the time she was visiting a friend from university who was the front seat passenger was a friend.
'She called the ambulance immediately under the defendant's directions but was told it was a 30 minute wait and they flagged down a car. Fortunately, a first aider was in it.'
Miss Edwards added: 'She has never been in trouble before. She has no points on her licence and has never been disqualified. She is studying at Bristol University and hopes to do a law conversion course.
'She is not someone who has ever set out to hurt somebody, who hid away from her responsibility, or someone who has minimised the seriousness of what she did.
'Going through the court proceedings and being sat in the dock has been punishment for this young woman. Of course the victim has suffered - but knowing she has hurt somebody has taken a toll on the defendant.
'The disqualification will impact her work, social life and ability to get to university. There is a civil claim ongoing. '
MacKinnon was also sentenced to a 12-month community order and was ordered to pay £199 in costs and a victim surcharge. She was banned from driving for 12 months.
JP Elaine Hemmings said: 'We have paid particular attention to the victim personal statement and the ongoing impact that this is having on Mrs Mills. It is in the interests of Mrs Mills to allow the civil claim to proceed separately.'