Mum has 'no hate' as trucker is spared jail over JCB horror which left her with life-threatening head injuries

Anthony Adams' LGV crashed into a bridge after he failed to measure it's height and sent incorrectly secured plant equipment flying off the back.

Mum-of-one Alana Rutter-Close was hit by a metal attachment and suffered brain injury, multiple skull and facial fractures and lacerations.

She needed life saving hospital procedures after the accident, which happened on the A194 at Leam Lane, Jarrow, in April 2014 and her family were warned she may not survive.

A judge said it is "remarkable" the critical condition she was in has stated to improve.

The married mum, who had her own mother and young son in the car, contracted bacterial meningitis because of her injuries, has no sense of taste or smell and will be scarred for life.

Despite her plight, after which she was told she was "extremely fortunate to survive", the miracle mum had no desire to see Adams put behind bars.

The 35-year-old, from Northumberland, said in a victim impact statement read out at Newcastle Crown Court: "I want him to know he has caused so much pain and distress.

"I know he hasn't done this to me on purpose, I don't hate him.

"I am not angry. Being angry wouldn't change anything.

"I have no desire to see him sent to prison. That wouldn't change anything."

The court heard Mrs Rutter-Close remembers nothing about the accident, only waking up in hospital with severe injuries.

Her mother Janice Parnell, who suffered severe whiplash injuries, was only able to see her daughter when she was discharged from hospital herself.

Mrs Parnell said her daughter's injuries were "horrific".

She added: "My beautiful daughter was broken, almost unrecognisable, in a coma, on life support.

"Every time a bell or buzzer sounded I ran out of the room, terrified she was going to die."

Adams, 52, of Hamilton Drive, York, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Judge Paul Sloan QC sentenced him to nine months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with 140 hours unpaid work.

The judge said he accepted Adams' remorse was real and that he had been a hard working family man all his life.

The judge added: "That has to be set against the background of the suffering you have caused, the considerable suffering you have caused and continue to cause others through your actions."

Adams was banned from the roads for two years and ordered to pass an extended test before he can get back behind the wheel.

Adams claimed he had had no specific training on loading or measuring his vehicle.