A MOTHER whose life has been devastated by a car thief told yesterday how she cannot cuddle her children.

Shona McKay was injured when a stolen van driven by a 16-year-old boy crashed head on into her family car.

Ms McKay's children Keiron, 11, and seven-year-old daughter Levi, were also in the car. All three, plus the teenage driver, had to airlifted to hospital after being cut from the wreckage.

Mrs McKay was released from hospital this week, as the teenage driver was locked up for nine months and ordered to spend a further nine months under supervision in the community.

Ms McKay, 36, from Whitburn, near Sunderland, has undergone three operations on her arms and legs, and is barely able to move.

Her limbs were broken in the accident, and she suffered life-threatening head injuries.

Keiron suffered a broken collarbone and broken foot in the crash, and Levi is recovering from a broken collarbone, broken toes and fractured ribs.

Ms McKay said the accident had devastated her family, adding: "Apart from the pain, I have had to be separated from my kids and I can't even give them a cuddle or tuck them in at night.

"I am so angry and frustrated because any chance I had of a normal life has now been taken away.

"The kids have been through a very traumatic time and I haven't been there for them."

The teenage driver pleaded guilty to car theft, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance when he appeared before South Tyneside Youth Court.

The accident happened in March in Lizard Lane, South Shields.