A HAMPSHIRE woman's life has been wrecked by a maniac driver who ploughed into her delivery van.

Angela Townsend was so badly injured that she couldn't return to work.

Her world was turned upside down when tree surgeon Wayne Luke drove like "a lunatic" down winding country roads and overtook traffic.

He lost control of his powerful BMW on a bend and smashed into Mrs Townsend's van near Lyming-ton in the New Forest.

Now 30-year-old Luke has been jailed for three years, banned from driving for three years and ordered to take an extended driving test.

Judge John Boggis QC, sitting at Southampton Crown Court, told him: "You were driving like an idiot, carving up other people and putting their lives at risk.

"It was appalling and only a custodial sentence is appropriate."

The court heard that Luke had two previous convictions for drink-driving, one of them after the accident.

Mrs Townsend, 58, received severe whiplash and other injuries in the accident last July while driving a delivery van for Cafco Automotive, New Milton.

The crash took place on Sway Road, near to the junction with Vaggs Lane, Hordle.

Witnesses described how Luke had been driving like "a lunatic" as he sped down winding country roads and overtook other traffic.

Mrs Townsend, from Manor Road, New Milton, was trapped in her vehicle and had to be released by firefighters who removed the driver's door.

Luke, of Addison Road, Brocken-hurst, denied dangerous driving.

He blamed the crash on another motorist who had pulled out in front of him, causing him to swerve.

Other witnesses said they had not seen the vehicle and his story was rejected by jurors.

After the case Mrs Townend, who is being supported by husband Peter, said: "I still suffer from flashbacks of the incident, and nightmares, and I feel nervous if I'm in a car and another car comes close."

She added: "When the accident happened, I thought at first that I must have a spinal injury, as I couldn't feel my arms and legs.

"Although this turned out not to be the case, I suffered from whiplash and had to wear a collar and have physiotherapy for months.

"The impact had also damaged my knee, so I couldn't walk, and I was bruised from head to toe, some of which was caused by the seat belt.

"My right hand also cramps up if I try to write and my fingers go numb, and I have trouble with my right shoulder. The pain was indescribable, like electric shocks."