THE heartbroken family of a mother-of-two left severely brain damaged by a drunk driver said their lives have been ruined by the horrific crash.

Lewis Heslop, 26, began a four-year prison sentence last night after pleading guilty to a string of driving offences that robbed Monica Lewandowska of the chance of caring for her grandchild.

She was on the pavement of Easson Road, Darlington, when a silver Hyundai Coupe, being driven by Heslop, left the road, flipped over, and crashed into parked vehicles and a house before hitting the grandmother.

Father-of-one Heslop had been three times over the legal drink drive limit at the time of the incident on Monday, June 13.

Teesside Crown Court heard yesterday (August 19) that the Darlington man, of no fixed abode, had shortened the life of 41-year-old Ms Lewandowska, who has two young daughters and a baby granddaughter.

He had previously admitted charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and having no insurance. The court was told he had never had a driving licence, and was already banned from getting behind the wheel after being convicted of drug driving.

Judge Simon Phillips, QC, sentenced Heslop to a total of 48 months imprisonment for the life-changing crash that shocked families in Darlington and Ms Lewandowska’s homeland in Poland.

Addressing Heslop, who has never taken a driving test, Judge Phillips said: “(Ms Lewandowska's) mother describes her as an innocent person robbed of her life with no chance of looking after her grandchild.

“She states that you, Lewis Heslop, have ruined their lives and nothing will change that.”

Ms Lewandowska, who moved to the country two years ago, had stopped walking on Easson Road to check her mobile phone when witnesses described hearing loud engine noises and screeching tyres.

Harry Hadfield, prosecuting, said that a group of men had rushed to free Ms Lewandowska, who was trapped underneath the car before paramedics placed the 41-year-old in an induced coma.

The mother-of-two has never regained consciousness and a James Cook University Hospital consultant said: “We’re left with a body that breathes and nothing else.”

The Northern Echo:

Ms Lewandowska’s daughters have visited their mother in hospital alongside their inconsolable grandmother.

Ms Lewandowska’s mother said: “I came to England with my granddaughter to see her and I realised that it will be the last time I will see her alive.

“She was an innocent person who became the victim of a terrible accident. Not even a single mother should be in such a situation.

“Monica has been robbed of her life. We were planning to visit Monica this autumn in England and instead of this, we may have to organise her funeral.”

The court heard that Heslop had drunk around half of a large bottle of vodka on the morning of the incident before taking the keys to his friend's car after asking how fast it would drive.

Heslop’s lawyer, John Turner, said the former roofer was burdened with guilt that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

“My client would like the court to know that he is not a monster," he said. "He is a normal man with normal feelings.

“He is burdened with guilt and knows that feeling will last for the rest of his life.”

Ms Lewandowska’s partner, who regularly stays in hospital overnight with the mother-of-two, said: “I love Monica very much and I feel very angry about the person who did this.

"I feel angry that it didn’t happen to me because she’s not had an easy life.

"I’m sure she will surprise everybody and she will wake up. I’m hoping our lives are still ahead of us.

“Any punishment will not give back her life.”

Heslop was also banned from driving for six years.