A woman who crashed a car while drunk, leaving her passenger with life-changing injuries, has been banned from driving.

Cambridgeshire Police said Martyna Bryniak, 38, crashed her neighbour’s car into trees in Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, after taking it without permission on 9 March last year.

“She fled the scene, leaving another of her neighbours, who was her passenger, with numerous life changing injuries, including shattered bones in her leg,” a force spokesperson explained.

“Bryniak was arrested at her home in Hinchcliffe, Orton Goldhay, after she was identified as the driver.”

Police said she failed the initial breath test and provided an evidential sample which revealed she had 159 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of urine – over the legal limit.

Bryniak pleaded guilty to drink driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance.

She appeared at Huntingdon Law Courts on Thursday (26 February), where she was handed a two-year driving ban and sentenced to 21 months in prison, suspended for two years.

The court also ordered Bryniak to pay £5000 in compensation and complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and 100 hours of unpaid work.

In sentencing, the judge said the devastation and damage was “all caused by your decision to put your foot on the pedal that took you both on that journey.”

Sergeant Ben Chance, who investigated, said: “Bryniak made the choice to not only get behind the wheel of a car without permission, but also knowing she was under the influence of alcohol.

“Her actions have had a significant impact - physically, emotionally, and financially - on the lives of the victim and the victim’s family.”

The force operates a dedicated, confidential hotline – 0800 032 0845 – which is available 24/7 and allows the reporting of those believed to be driving under the influence.

Information about drink driving, the law and the penalties, can be found on the force’s dedicated road safety information webpages.