Grandmother drove into nursery and trapped boy, 2, under wheels

A grandmother who lost control of her car and smashed it through a nursery fence, trapping a two-year-old boy under the wheels, has been banned from driving for two years.

Jayne James, 63, was dropping her own granddaughter off in the car park of the Partou Sunny Days Nursery in Vale Road, Ellesmere Port, when the incident occurred on 16 June.

Cheshire Police said her grey Omoda people carrier suddenly accelerated into a playground occupied by 22 children aged between two and three.

James, of Knottingly Drive in Great Sutton, admitted dangerous driving and was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, at Chester Magistrates' Court.

Cheshire Police said the boy had been struck by the car and pinned between its front wheel and a brick wall.

Staff at the nursery were able to pull the boy free and he was taken to hospital along with two other children, who had been injured by flying debris.

Cheshire Police said despite a "considerable" friction burn caused by the wheel, the boy and the other two children avoided serious physical harm.

James, who was described as being in "distress" by witnesses, was arrested at the scene and interviewed.

She told officers she "could not remember any specific details" as to how the crash happened.

James said she had been driving the vehicle for a number of months and mentioned there was a feature on the Omoda that meant "it would begin to accelerate if a certain pedal was pressed whilst it was stationary".

The force said the car was examined and found to have no mechanical faults that would have explained what happened.

The crash resulted in a major emergency services response and saw bystanders jump in to assist.

Dentist Dr Dario Sales, from a nearby clinic, climbed over the fence to help.

He told the BBC at the time that he and two of his colleagues had hopped over the fence and helped staff provide aid to the children affected.

He said he was "shocked" and "worried about the kids" when he saw the car had crashed through the nursery's fence and "saw a lot of chaos".

Det Sgt Amy Hollis, from Cheshire Police, said James's "inability to control her vehicle" had put the lives of 22 children "at serious risk".

"The outcome could have been very different," she said.

"I am very glad to hear that all the children injured in the collision both directly and indirectly have been discharged from hospital and have since made a full physical recovery.

"That being said, they and their families continue to be supported by our partner agencies as a result of the emotional and psychological impact of the collision which is likely to have a lasting result."

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