A teenage driver who hit a 17-year-old student in his speeding car was today fined £250 by a judge at Hove Crown Court.

Harriet Jordan Wrench suffered a fractured skull, 12 fractures to her pelvis and a catalogue of other serious injuries.

Miss Jordan Wrench, of Millers Road, Brighton, spent ten days in intensive care, underwent nine operations and had to take her GCSE exams while on a drip in hospital.

Today Timothy Jones, 19, of Cuckfield Road, Hurstpierpoint, also had his driving licence suspended.

He must retake a driving test under legislation covering newly-qualified drivers.

He had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving and was cleared after a three-day trial at Hove Crown Court last week.

The jury convicted him on the alternative charge of careless driving.

During the trial the jury was told Miss Jordan Wrench, who had been celebrating a friend's birthday, had run out into the road without looking as she left the Volk's Tavern night club in Madeira Drive, Brighton, at midnight on December 22 2000.

Jones's white Vauxhall Nova hit her at a speed estimated at between 40mph and 50mph in a 30mph zone.

The court heard that Jones, a first year computer student at Reading University, had no chance of avoiding the collision and at first had not realised what had happened.

He told the jury he was "appalled" that he had caused such horrific injuries to Miss Jordan Wrench, now a student at Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College.

Jones said he had tried to visit her in hospital the next day but was advised against going by the police.

Miss Jordan Wrench and her family were not in court to see Jones sentenced.

Judge David Rennie said: "Evidence showed that even if you had been driving within the speed limit you would not have been able to avoid a collision.

"However, that night you broke the law and drove too fast. This terrible case shows what will happen if people flout the speed restrictions."

Andrew Bishop, defending, said Jones had met Harriet's mother and sister to express his remorse. As he left court, Jones described the meeting as "helpful".