Overview

• Louisa Tunstall was caught on CCTV inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon moments before her Fiat 500 veered onto a pavement in Wigan, hitting a pedestrian.
• The 51-year-old victim, Tracey Holman, suffered severe leg injuries requiring multiple surgeries and now relies on full-time care, unable to resume her active lifestyle.
• Tunstall was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court to 20 months in a young offender institution and banned from driving for two years and eight months, with an extended test requirement.
• Forensic analysis confirmed no mechanical issues with the vehicle, and police established that Tunstall's drug use directly impaired her driving ability.
• Greater Manchester Police emphasized that driving under the influence of nitrous oxide will lead to prison sentences, as part of an ongoing crackdown since its 2023 reclassification as a Class C drug.