A FATHER who ran down his stepdaughter and then reversed over her twice has been jailed indefinitely.

Ian Scott lay in wait for Patricia Forster and struck as she walked home from the pub with her grandmother, Ada Forster, 60, in Tyne Street, off the High Street, Easington Lane, County Durham.

Scott, 42, mounted the pavement and ploughed into the women moments after they left the Three Tuns pub at 11.15pm, on July 2, last year.

As Scott reversed over Miss Forster twice, her grandmother could only watch.

Miss Forster was in a coma for eight days at University Hospital North Durham. She suffered severe head and facial injuries and serious internal injuries to her abdomen, pelvis and chest and still requires the use of a wheelchair.

Ada Forster suffered pelvis and lower limb fractures and contracted numerous infections, including MRSA. She now walks with a stick.

At Newcastle Crown Court yesterday, Scott, of Windsor Terrace, Haswell, County Durham, was jailed indefinitely for public protection after pleading guilty to attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.

The day after the incident, Scott was chased down the A19 by police when officers approached his stationary car and he drove away. He had slit his wrists, doused himself in petrol and was driving with a cigarette lighter in his mouth.

He crashed the car into bushes near the junction for Norton and Billingham on Teesside, and was arrested.

Daubed on the car in blood and marker pen were slogans including: “I do not think I killed Tricia, but I meant to.”

Ben Nolan QC, mitigating, said of Scott: “He has been described as a monster. For a monster, he is somewhat pathetic and inadequate.”

Judge Sebastian Faulks said Scott must serve a minimum of 12 years before being considered for parole.