A callous drink driver is facing a long jail sentence after being found guilty of deliberately running over a pedestrian who tried to stop his road rage rampage.

Luke Geard mowed down 57-year-old Helen Thorne when she stepped out in front of his BMW X5 after he crashed into a car parked outside her house in Axminster.

He accelerated over her and she suffered horrific injuries to her legs and body as she was rolled under his wheels and thrown into the air, landing four metres away.

He had drunk at least eight pints after an argument with his girlfriend and when police told him of Mrs Thorne’s injuries he replied: “That’s not my problem, I can’t give a f***’.

Geard went on to crash into two more cars as he drove for 40 minutes and 15.9 miles on his way to get a kebab from a takeaway in Seaton and then back to his home in Kilmington.

He denied being the driver when police arrested him and in court he claimed that he had not seen Mrs Thorne, even though she had been directly in front of his windscreen.

The crash in June last year left Mrs Thorne with life-changing injuries. She spent weeks in hospital, much of it in intensive care, and surgeons had to rebuild her legs. Virtually every bone in her right leg, from foot to hip had been broken.

The crash happened outside her family home in Sector Lane, Axminster and was witnessed by her Rebecca and her partner Harrison Emmett, who had all gone to investigate shouting in the narrow country road at 10pm.

Geard was shouting four-lettered abuse at another driver who was blocking his progress on the single track lane. He kept accelerating forwards and stopping just short of the car as it reversed towards a passing place.

He then tried to get through but crashed into Mr Emmett’s car, causing Mrs Thorne to try to stop him to get his details. Geard was already angry after the rows with his girlfriend and the other driver and reacted by driving straight over her.

The jury at Exeter Crown Court watched videos of Geard drinking at the George Hotel and Red Lion before staggering to his car with a woman who he dropped off near the crash scene.

Geard, aged 31, of Hill Crest, Kilmington, denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent to do so but was found guilty in just an hour. He will be sentenced next month.

Judge David Evans released him on bail but told him to expect an immediate and substantial jail sentence.

Geard admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, two further offences of dangerous driving, assaulting an emergency worker, and refusing to supply a sample of breath or blood.

He has two previous convictions for drink driving, one for failing to stop after an accident, and two for threatening behaviour.

During the trial, Mr Herc Ashworth, prosecuting, said Geard had been drinking cider and lager in the George Hotel and Red Lion pubs in Axminster since 5 pm and had an argument with his girlfriend during the evening before he carried on drinking with one of her friends.

He dropped her off at her home near Sector Lane at around 10 pm on June 22, 2022 and had driven so badly during the short journey that she had to ask him to slow down . He responded by boasting how quick his car was.

Mrs Thorne, her daughter Rebecca and Mr Emmett left their home in Sector Lane after hearing an argument between drivers outside.

She is still in pain and walking on crutches 11 months after the crash.

Geard said he was very drunk and had only a vague memory of the evening but was sure he had not seen Mrs Thorne or intended to run her over.

He said: “I haven’t any recollection at all about it. That is the scary thing. I don’t remember saying those things to the police. They should not have been said. That’s not me as a person. It was just because I had alcohol in me.

“I was just an idiot. I was a bit wound up. I have no recollection of Mrs Thorne in front of the car. If I had seen her, I would have stopped. I would not have done that to her. It is not in my nature.

“I did not drive at her intentionally. That is not right, not right at all.”