DRINK driver Peter Whalley was today jailed for eight months after his car ploughed into a teenage girl pinning her against a wall and causing her serious injuries.

By Amanda Cresswell

DRINK-driver Peter Whalley was today jailed for eight months after his car ploughed into a teenage girl pinning her against a wall and causing her serious injuries.

His victim Vicki Kelcher was crushed between Whalley's car and a brick wall and suffered serious injuries as a consequence of the crash, which happened last December.

Speaking after the Felixstowe businessman's sentencing Miss Kelcher's mum Wendy said she was pleased with the jail term, although would have liked to have seen a longer ban.

"At least he has got something - that is the main thing. Hopefully we can move on now."

Mrs Kelcher said her 17-year-old daughter looks at life differently now since the accident.

"She realises how lucky she is that life is precious because in one flash it could have gone."

Vicki's life has a whole new meaning now and although she does not feel bitter about what Whalley did to her she cannot forgive him.

"She feels that there is no room in life for a drink-driver."

She said Vicki was annoyed by the irresponsible attitude taken by Whalley, especially as a publican who should have known more about the consequences of drink-driving.

Recorder Neil Garnham QC, sentencing the 35-year-old Felixstowe businessman at Bury Crown Court, today said: "You drove the car when the alcohol in your system was substantially over the drink-drive limit.

"You intended to drive from your business to your home, which was a distance of some miles."

Mr Garnham took into account that Whalley had suffered deep and genuine remorse and had shown signs of clinical depression since then. But he said the offence was so serious only imprisonment would suffice.

Whalley, of Princess Gardens, Felixstowe, had previously denied dangerous driving, but admitted drink-driving at his Ipswich Crown Court trial. In addition to his prison sentence, he was disqualified from driving for two years.

Whalley, who was the owner of Bonds Wine Bar and the Old Millars pub and restaurant in Felixstowe, was arrested shortly after the incident. He was then taken to the police station, where he refused to give a breath sample.

He agreed to give one when his solicitor arrived and that showed he had 83 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, which was almost two and a half times the legal limit of 35mcg.

Miss Kelcher, of Chaucer Road, Felixstowe, suffered severe injuries to her pelvis and both legs and had a gash on her face.