New Milton man Dale Clark admits causing Redhill Avenue crash which put mum Rebecca Sharp in a coma

A mother who was run over while she was pushing her baby in a pram is still in a coma five weeks after the incident, Bournemouth Crown Court has heard.

Rebecca Sharp was making her way across Redhill Avenue, Bournemouth, to a park when she was hit by scaffolder Dale Clark (38) from York Avenue, New Milton, in his Toyota Rav4 on 11th April this year.

Her baby was unhurt in the crash but Mrs Sharp was left with life-threatening injuries.

In court yesterday (Friday) Clark pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop after an accident.

He pleaded not guilty to two charges of driving while over the limit for alcohol and drugs.

Giving an update on Mrs Sharp’s condition, prosecutor Andrew Houston said: “She still has not woken but she has opened her eyes and is moving her limbs. She is not responding to commands and, when opening her eyes, does not seem to be reacting to anything.”

Mr Houston said a consultant had revealed the mum “was not going to die from her injuries” but that it was “early days” to assess whether she had suffered brain damage.

He said it would likely be another six months before consultants could ascertain “what level of recovery” Mrs Sharp might achieve.

Clark, who sat with his head bowed in the dock, offered an apology to her family through his barrister Nick Robinson who said his client had asked him to “formally apologise for this offending”.

Several of Mrs Sharp’s family were in court, including her husband.

The case had been expected to go ahead yesterday but it had to be adjourned to a later date because of Clark’s not-guilty pleas to the alcohol and drug charges. Mr Robinson said the defendant claimed the substances had been consumed after the accident.

Judge William Mousley said a future court hearing would decide whether Clark was to be dealt with for the two offences to which he had pleaded guilty before a magistrates court hearing on the two he had denied. Or whether the crown court case would be postponed until after they were dealt with.

Remanding Clark in custody until 20th June, he also disqualified him from driving. The judge then turned to Mrs Sharp’s family and apologised for the delays in the case saying: “I know it is not progressing as quickly as you like but I hope you understand.”