A PENSIONER who knocked down a woman out walking her dogs in Co Down has been spared jail.
Trevor Bettes (74) from Shackleton Walk, Newtownards admitted causing the pedestrian grievous bodily injury by careless driving on Comber Road in the town on May 5 2019.
The woman spent 19 days in hospital after suffering "significant" injuries, which have had a "lasting impact, both psychologically and physically".
One of her dogs also died.
Bettes was handed a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years, by Downpatrick Crown Court Judge, Geoffrey Miller QC.
He was banned from driving for 10 years and until re-tested, with Judge Miller saying: "Given his age, this will effectively mean he will not be licenced to drive again".
Interviewed by police after the collision, he said he thought his steering wheel had locked and he mounted the kerb trying to unlock it.
When later interviewed by police in June 2019, he said '"everything went black", he "felt a big thump" and the next thing he remembered was "being off the road".
He said it was the first time it had happened and his doctor believed his blood pressure tablets may have caused a black-out.
No defects were found on his Ford Focus, but the two front tyres were in poor condition.
The court heard Bettes expressed remorse and wished to apologise to the woman and that he had not driven since the collision.
Judge Miller said anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car "must bear in mind that it can be an instrument of death or destruction if we ever allow ourselves to be distracted".
