An electric scooter driver who jumped a red light and knocked over a vet, leaving her with a fractured skull, has escaped jail.

Joseph Pedelty, 34, who had previously been banned from the road for drink-driving, was caught on a dash cam driving away as veterinarian Raquel Delgado-Calos lay in the road .

The city magistrates court was told the red light was “very clear to see”. Ms Delgado-Calo described feeling like she had been “hit by a bus” when Pedelty hit her at high speed.

She was left permanently scarred after suffering deep cuts to her head and nose, as well as a fractured skull, following the collision in Portsmouth on January 14 this year.

In a statement, Ms Delgado-Calo said: “We were both walking and pulling suitcases.

“We approached a pedestrian crossing, as we arrived the light turned red and a car stopped.

“I turned right and took a step, and I felt a big impact. The feeling I have now is like I’ve been slapped hard.

“I was on the road thinking I had been hit by a bus. I lifted my arms and legs to make sure I could move. I could feel blood running down my face and what felt like meat between my teeth.

“It was only then that I realized I had been in an accident. I was told I was hit by a man riding an electric scooter and he got back on the scooter and drove off.

Pedelty, of Waterlooville, was banned from the roads for 18 months and given a community order for the same length after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The court heard he took a scooter ride to “clear his head”.

The defender, Roni Pittman, said he went to police after a media appeal to find the driver of the electric scooter.

“He was eager to put himself out there,” she said, adding, “He did not misunderstand the seriousness of the incident at that time.”

“When the media appeal came in they were shocked and horrified by the injuries this lady suffered. He accepts his actions and this incident.

But through the footage, prosecutor Giles Fletcher said: “The defendant does not stop while on the scooter. It is on a vehicle that is not insured.

“He did not respect a red light which was very clear to see. He was unable to stop on the spot and was seriously injured. He disappears.

“We see the surprise of the victim’s partner.”

Presiding judge Ryan Rutlidge criticized Pedelty for not stopping to check on his victim’s well-being.