A CARE assistant who smashed into an oncoming car at high speed has been let off paying any compensation to the other driver, who was left with a shattered pelvis and broken leg.

Jade Saunders, 21, was speeding along the A450 Harvington Road near Kidderminster on May 26 last year when her Mini clipped the curb and spun out of control, ploughing into a Toyota on the opposite side of the road.

Worcester Crown Court heard that despite the 40mph speed limit on the road, she had been travelling so fast that her car lifted off the ground entirely in the crash before hitting a wall.

The impact also caused the Mini's engine and gearbox to fall out and they were found around 16 metres away, having been thrown further down the road.

Prosecutor Paul Whitfield said the woman in the other car had been trapped by her injuries and had to be freed by emergency services. She had been so badly hurt that she was not able to return to work until several months later.

He told Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins the court had the power to order compensation be paid but the judge said he felt that was an issue for their insurance companies to settle.

"Clearly, the driver of the other vehicle will be entitled to considerable damages but, in respect of what one might assume to be limited resources, I think it is a matter best left to insurance," he added.

Instead, he handed Saunders, of Birch Crescent, Tividale, Oldbury, a 12-month community order with nine months of supervision and a motor offending course.

She will also have to do 125 hours of unpaid work and pay £300 costs plus a £60 victim surcharge and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.