A MOTHER-of-two who ran over her best friend in a drink-induced psychosis has walked free from court -- after a judge said the case was "unusual in the extreme."
Andrea Clayton, 48, had fought back tears in the dock as Burnley Crown Court heard how seriously injured Anne Gronwald thought their relationship was damaged forever -- but felt if the defendant was sent to jail she would serve every day of the sentence with her. Mrs Gronwald, a mother-of-three, suffered a dislocated hip and broken bones, was in hospital for six weeks and was undergoing pyschotherapy after police found her lying in the driveway of Clayton's home, in June.
Sentencing Clayton to 240 hours community punishment -- to work with people who were incapacitated -- Judge David Pirie said he accepted she did not not intend to hurt her friend but if she had, she would have been going to prison for a substantial period.
He said Clayton had been "acutely intoxicated," and had experienced a break with reality and severe mental derangement, no longer recognising her friend of 20 years and believing she was a man and an intruder in her home.
The judge added he had no doubt in the months since, the defendant had experienced a great deal of strain and stress and also remorse .
He said Mrs Gronwald felt she would be serving every day of her term with her if Clayton was sent to custody and that she would be given the same sentence for being the victim.
Clayton, of Shawcliffe Lane, Great Harwood, who had no previous convictions, was also fined £750, with £630 costs and disqualified from driving for two years.
She admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and failing to provide a specimen of breath.
The court was told how the defendant, godmother to the complainant's children, and Mrs Gronwald had been drinking until the early hours during a "girls' night in" at Clayton's home.
The defendant drank so much she no longer recognised her friend and believed she was a man.
Clayton phoned the police, handed the receiver to Mrs Gronwald and then went outside and got into her Mitsubishi Shogun to drive to the police station to get help.
Mrs Gronwald, knowing the condition Clayton was in, tried to stop her, was behind the vehicle and as the defendant started to reverse it out of the garage, knocked the complainant down. Clayton continued to reverse for about 10 metres with her friend trapped underneath the vehicle.
Clayton, seen to be hysterical by a man living nearby, went to the police station and then drove back home.
Philip Andrews, defending, who said since the night of the offences, Clayton had not driven at all, had earlier told the court the case was bizarre and the defendant could recall virtually nothing of what went on.
He said Clayton was terrified of the prospect of jail and had been hugely punished by what went on.
She had lost her good character and after the accident she had gone to see her doctor and sought a psychiatric referral to see why she behaved in that way.
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