Taxi driver ran over 75-year-old grandmother forcing her to miss trip of a lifetime to Disneylandhttps://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/no ... ts-sectionA court heard the victim suffered life-changing injuries and needed FOUR operations
Image: Newcastle ChronicleA grandmother was forced to scrap a family holiday to Disneyland after suffering life-changing injuries at the hands of a taxi driver.
CCTV footage showed Andrew Bailey's Ford Mondeo mowing Jennifer Kirkbride down on Osborne Road in Jesmond.
The horror incident left the pensioner in hospital for eight weeks and needing four operations.
Months after the incident, a court heard the 75-year-old was still in a cast and suffering from her injuries.
"I can't even make myself a cup of tea as I shake so much," she said.
"I consider myself to be a shadow of my former life."
Mrs Kirkbride's injuries were sustained in a split second as Bailey's taxi struck her as she crossed the road.
The driver told the court that he had been "blinded by the sun" and hadn't seen her.
"I've been driving for years and this is the first accident I've had," he said.
CCTV footage showed Bailey's vehicle colliding with Mrs Kirkbride, seconds after he entered the road from a junction on January 31.
"You thought it was safe to pull out because there were no vehicles," prosecutor Stephen Davies said.
"For some reason you simply have not seen the pedestrian crossing - how didn't you see her?"
Bailey, 56, - who has been driving for 30 years - again blamed the "blasting" winter sun.
Mrs Davies said: "You have had your eyes out for other cars and not pedestrians.
"You were not paying attention as you ought to have done."
Bailey was convicted of driving without due care or attention, which he had denied, at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.
His solicitor Duncan Campbell said: "It was effectively a pure accident - and pure accidents do happen."
The court heard how Bailey had got out his car and helped the victim off the road and into a chair.
Mr Campbell added: "There does not have to be blame for an accident which has occured."
The court heard the victim's pain had been compounded by Bailey's refusal to accept the blame.
He attended a voluntary interview with police but refused to answer questions over the incident, which left the pensioner with "significant injuries".
Compensation for those injuries are now being dealt with via insurance companies.
As well as cancelling her Florida trip, the court heard the pensioner has endured blood transfusions and injuries to her pelvis, legs and arms.
Her daughter had also been forced to quit her job to care for her.
"This has changed my life," she said in her victim statement.
Bailey, of Pearson Place, North Shields , was fined £255 and ordered to pay 200 costs and a £30 charge.
His licence was endorsed with seven points.
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