A woman who ran over a pedestrian just seconds after she inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon at the wheel has been jailed.

Louisa Tunstall from Lowton near Wigan received the custodial sentence at Bolton Crown Court for possession of a Class C drug, driving under the influence of drugs and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The incident happened at around 7pm on Friday 24 May 2024 on Newton Road in Lowton, Wigan.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) say that CCTV footage captured Louisa Tunstall, 19, using the Class C drug, while travelling in her Fiat 500.

Moments later Tunstall’s vehicle veered onto the pavement and struck a 51-year-old female pedestrian and then overturned on the East Lancashire Road, Lowton.

The pedestrian sustained serious life-changing leg injuries from the incident.

In a victim impact statement, the injured woman said:

“I would like to say that this incident has had a significant impact on not only my life but my family’s life."

"As I cannot get upstairs, I need someone to be with me all of the time and my daughter has become my full-time carer which isn’t fair on her as she is currently studying at university"

"When I think about the actions of the driver, I feel like she has turned my world upside down. I have missed so much in my life, and I feel that she can just go about her business as normal with no understanding of the consequences for her actions.”

When questioned by officers, Tunstall stated that she took her eyes off the road to retrieve something in the footwell before knowing the car had flipped. Also, confirming she had just been out to purchase nitrous oxide to use that evening.

She was jailed for one year and eight months in prison, banned from driving for two years and eight months, and ordered to take an extended test.

Following sentencing, PC Stefan Bielizna from GMP’s roads policing unit, said:

“It was made clear by the judge that drivers under the influence of nitrous oxide, like in this case, will be given time behind bars if they choose to get behind the wheel. Being in possession and especially under the influence of nitrous oxide has similar effects to other drugs and can severely impair your capability to drive."

“There is no excuse for taking other people’s lives into your hands due to the reckless and selfish behaviours that Tunstall has shown.”