A South Oxhey woman who spent Christmas in a wheelchair after being struck by a teenage driver in a stolen car will not be allowed to see the boy sentenced, a court has ruled.

Katy Gilbert, 27, had her hip shattered in four places and spent two weeks in hospital following the crash at the junction of Sandy Lane and Hayling Road on December 2.

She is likely to be reliant on crutches and a wheelchair for the next six months.

The 16-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - fled the scene but was arrested and pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, failing to stop after an accident, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.

Katy was at West and Central Hertfordshire Youth Court on Wednesday to view the case but an application for her to be allowed inside the usually closed courtroom was denied by magistrates.

The defendant will be sentenced at a later date.