Woman, 87, facing jail after mowing down three people as she reversed car out of garden centre

An 87-year-old woman is facing jail after she mowed down three people while reversing her car out of a garden centre.

Pauline Haynes hit two women and a boy while manoeuvring her Mazda in a busy car park at Broomfields Farm Shop and garden centre in Worcester last August.

Haynes admitted two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving when she appeared at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The court heard how she was backing out of the parking space when she suddenly shot backwards.

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Nicola Weir and her son were queuing for food nearby when they were knocked down by the car.

Haynes then careered into several display tables and through an apple orchard, where she pinned another customer, Dawn Walters, to a tree.

Walters was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where she was treated for “significant” injuries.

Melanie Winterflood, prosecuting said: “Her injuries were significant. She can’t walk. She will need an operation.

"She lives in constant pain, she can’t carry out activities, and there are other injuries.”

The court heard Haynes had already surrendered her licence and told magistrates “I’m not going to drive again”.

Belinda Ariss, defending, said it was a “tragic accident”.

Chairman of the magistrates' bench, Kevin Lloyd-Wright, said: “Due to the nature of this offence and its consequences, and the age of the defendant we send to crown court for sentencing.”

Haynes, who is facing a maximum sentence of five years in jail, was bailed and given an interim driving ban.

She will be sentenced at Worcester Crown Court in July.