A teenager from Ely has been jailed for causing a crash on the A47 which left a mother paralysed from the neck down.

George Taylor, 19, of Cage Lane, Stretham, was driving a black Volkswagen Golf on the A14 at around 11am on January 18 2023, when he failed to see a Skoda Fabia waiting to turn right in front of him. He hit the back of the car.

Emergency services attended the scene and the driver of the Skoda, a woman aged in her 40s, suffered a cardiac arrest. 

An off-duty paramedic and officers provided lifesaving care for her until she was taken to hospital. She was paralysed from the neck down as a result and will now need lifelong care.

She is unable to speak or breathe independently.

An analysis of George Taylor's phone found that he had been using it while travelling on the A47. He made two calls, sent one text and recorded five videos. The videos showed him driving at speed and overtaking vehicles while using his knees on the steering wheel.

He had held his licence for less than 12 weeks at the time of the crash.

The family of the victim have since released a statement, saying that she had always been a "gregarious person with a great sense of humour, and so full of life."

They added: "She had a strong work ethic and would put her hand to anything and everything.  She also dotes on her son.

"I’ll never forget that day when we were told she had been in an accident, and then arriving at the hospital to be facing the reality that we may lose her.

"To hear that my only daughter may not survive was heart-breaking and, as her dad, all I wanted to do was make everything better for her.

"The past 22 months have been traumatic and while I can’t change anything, I hope that by speaking out I can make others aware of what can happen on the roads.

"Catherine’s life was changed in a split second, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

"My focus now is to help Catherine and her son as much as I can to make their lives as comfortable as possible."

On Monday, November 25, George Taylor was sentenced to two years and two months in prison. He has also been disqualified from driving for 40 months and must take an extended driving test before he can drive again.