A man has been described as a "coward" after causing a crash which left a woman with a fractured spine before fleeing the scene with his dog.

Mark Kennedy appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday (July 29) after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident.

The court heard that at around 7pm on February 18 last year, Kennedy was driving on Firwood Park, Chadderton at a high speed.

The 43-year-old crashed into a parked car before his car went into the path of a car going in the other direction, causing the serious crash which saw all four airbags in the woman's car deployed.

The victim, a mother-of-three, immediately suffered serious injuries, which included fractures in her spine and wrist.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox by signing up to The Oldham Times’ morning and evening newsletters as well as our breaking news alerts 

Kennedy reacted by exiting his car, retrieving his dog from the vehicle, and fleeing the scene on foot.

Reading a statement in court, the victim's husband described how he received a call from a member of the public telling him his wife had been involved in an accident and said when he got to the scene, there were "car parts strewn all over the road".

He described Kennedy as a coward for fleeing the scene.

He added that although it was not known if Kennedy had been drunk at the time, he believed that he was intoxicated.

Eleanor Gleeson, prosecuting, told the court that Kennedy had a history of drink driving.

"I'm not living my life - I'm just existing"

Ms Gleeson read out a victim personal statement from the woman, who said the crash left her suffering the "worst pain ever" and that she thought she was going to die.

The victim slammed Kennedy, saying: "He left me for dead. He only thought of himself and just left."

The woman has been left with post-traumatic stress disorder and complex regional pain syndrome, leaving her unable to carry out many normal activities due to the pain she suffers.

She said: "I'm not living my life, I'm just existing.

"My life has been ruined and come to a complete stop. I hate what my life has become."

"Cowardly action"

Defending, Constance Halliwell said Kennedy accepted there was no justification for his actions and that he deeply regretted what he had done.

She said the father had a history of substance abuse issues and that a jail sentence would impact his family negatively.

Ms Halliwell added Kennedy had fled the scene due to paranoia he experienced from an incident where he alleges he was assaulted.

Judge Neil Usher accepted Kennedy had been the victim of an attack but described his excuse for fleeing the scene as "nonsense" and that it had been a "cowardly action".

He said Kennedy fled the scene because he knew his driving had been the cause of the crash and added that Kennedy had an "appalling record".

Judge Usher said: "You present a high risk of harm to other road users.

"I'm not convinced there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation."

The judge sentenced Kennedy to 14 months in prison and disqualified him from driving for three years and seven months.

Kennedy must also take an extended retest before he can drive again.