Woman, 87, faces five years in jail after knocking over three people

Britain’s OLDEST dangerous driver: 87-year-old woman faces five years in jail after knocking over three people while reversing her car in garden centre

• Pauline Haynes ploughed into two women and a boy while reversing her Mazda
• She had been leaving Broomfields Farm Shop and Garden Centre in Worcester
• Haynes, 87, admitted two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving

Pauline Haynes, 87, is the UK’s oldest dangerous driver after she mowed down three people

An 87-year-old woman is the UK’s oldest dangerous driver after she mowed down three people at a garden centre. 

Pauline Haynes ploughed into two women and a boy while reversing her Mazda at speed out of a car park at Broomfields Farm Shop and Garden Centre in Worcester.

Mother Nicola Weir and her son were queuing for food when they were knocked down by Haynes who ploughed through a series of display tables.  

Haynes then careered through an apple orchard where she pinned another customer, Dawn Walters, to a tree.

Miss Walters was rushed to hospital following the crash last August but has been left unable to walk and is in constant pain.

Although older motorists have been charged with driving-related offences, including a 101-year-old careless driver and a 91-year-old drink driver, Haynes is the oldest to admit to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after appearing at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. 

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

Melanie Winterflood, prosecuting, said: ‘She reversed out of the parking space in order to reverse out of the garden centre.

‘Unfortunately, as she reversed, she travelled at some speed backwards towards people stood outside the shop.

‘One of those was Nicola Weir, she was waiting to be served food from a hatch.

‘The vehicle collided with one of the display tables. That knocked Mrs Weir and her son to the ground. Her son didn’t suffer any injury at all.

‘She continued to reverse towards an orchard, and that was where second victim Miss Walters was.

‘The vehicle was still reversing at speed and collided with Miss Walters, pinning her against a tree.’

Haynes ploughed into two women and a boy while reversing her Mazda at speed out of a car park at Broomfields Farm Shop and Garden Centre (pictured) in Worcester

Miss Walters was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where she was treated for horrific injuries.

Miss Winterflood added: ‘Her injuries were significant. She can’t walk, she will need a operation.

‘She lives in constant pain, she can’t carry out (daily) 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 five years in jail, was bailed and slapped with an interim driving ban before she is sentenced at Worcester Crown Court in July. 

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