Free: Young mother Katie Lomas, 20, grinned as she left Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester today after avoiding jail despite running over her ex-boyfriend

A young mother who left her ex-boyfriend with brain damage after she mowed him down in the street during a drink-driving jaunt avoided jail today.

Katie Lomas, 20, of Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, used a friend's car to run over Dean Heaney, 22, at up to 40mph during a 4am 'jousting' game moments after he got out following a night out.

Mr Heaney - who has a child with Lomas but split up with her just a month before the incident - was left fighting for life with a punctured lung, fractures to the ribs and ligament damage.

He also suffered brain damage in the impact from the Renault Captur and has been unable to work since.

Lomas, who had not even passed a driving test, stopped the car after the impact and said: 'What have I done?'

Tests showed she was over the drink drive limit. Today as she left Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, she grinned and gave a double thumbs up.

Lomas, who was originally arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, admitted lesser charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink driving and having no licence or insurance.

Leaving court: Lomas (right), who had not even passed a driving test, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink driving and having no license or insurance

But she was only given a suspended prison sentence after a judge said she did not want to 'wreck' the life of her young son, now aged four.

Afterwards Lomas, who had looked stony faced in the dock at the hearing, laughed with friends and gave the thumbs up during a callous celebration as she walked free.

The incident took place in the early hours of January 30 last year after Lomas and Mr Heaney split up on New Year's Eve in 2015.

Mark Kellet, prosecuting, said: 'There was a level of animosity between them and on the evening of January 29 he was out with his new girlfriend Tara.

'On the same night Dean met up with Katie and there were arguments between the pair. At 4am on January 30 they left a nightclub in Stalybridge and Dean and Katie were sat in the backseat arguing throughout the journey.

'The car then approached a group of males who were in the road and Dean got out of the car and approached the males and they walked off.

'They then drove off and this is when the incident took place. The four males were present and Dean squared up to them.

'Katie got into the driver's seat and drove off at speed with the engine revving. She drove past the group of males but came back a second time.

Leaving: Lomas, who had looked stony faced in the dock at the hearing, laughed with friends and gave the thumbs up during a callous celebration as she walked free

'A witness at the scene, Callum Walsh said the car was being driven at about 40 miles an hour and Dean was stood in the road.

'Dean was then seen to move in and out of the road as if he wanted to joust.

'A car then began to approach Dean in the opposite direction and as Dean swerved to avoid it he was hit by the Renault Captur driven by Katie.

'There was no braking by Katie but she came to a stop further down the road and she got out the car and said: "What have I done".'

Lomas had 43mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - above the legal limit of 35mcg. Mr Heaney was taken to Salford Royal Hospital with head injuries and multiple fractures.

Mr Kellet added: 'She was shaken up by the injuries she had caused to Dean who received multiple injuries as a consequence of the incident.

'He remained in intensive care until February 10. He suffered brain damage, a punctured lung, fractures to the ribs and ligament damage to which he still suffers from.

'He cannot work as a result of the accident and this has caused him great difficulty.'

Steven Sullivan, defending, said: 'She is of previous good character and at the time of this incident she was only a few days past her 20th birthday and quite clearly immature.

Punishment: Lomas was given a two-year jail term suspended for 18 months and was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work

'When she got into the vehicle she had no idea what the consequences would be. The case is coming up to its first anniversary and she has a great deal of regret and remorse.

'If she could only turn back the clock of course she would. She is a mother and takes this responsibly very seriously.

'She is the primary carer of her son who has just started reception at school and the complainant can see his son whenever he wants to.

'She does not work but is a full time mother to her son. She regrets her actions and had no intention to harm Dean and that will remain with her.'

Lomas was given a two-year jail term suspended for 18 months and was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. She cannot apply for a driving licence for two years and must take an extended driving test.

The judge Miss Recorder Samantha Presland told her: 'I am going to give you full credit for your guilty plea, however, this is an extremely serious incident and both of you were very lucky.

'It happened in a moment of madness and temper however there is no evidence in your past that this is a pattern of behaviour - so I say this is reckless stupidity.