Jailed: Driver who left girlfriend with life-changing injuries after crashing at twice the speed limit

Fasail Javed was averaging 79mph in a 30 limit less than 200 metres before disaster struck, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 22-year-old, who was at the wheel of a Corsa, had ignored pleas to slow down from Miss Simram Sahota, his girlfriend and front seat passenger.

Javed overtook a silver VW Golf driven by a friend that was travelling at around twice the speed limit along Wednesbury Road, Caldmore at 2.30am on October 22, said Mr Trevor Jones, prosecuting.

The defendant then swerved sharply to his left to pass a 'keep left' bollard on the correct side of the road before over correcting for the right hand bend that immediately followed and led to a railway bridge.

The rear end of the Corsa broke free and the car careered out of control into a tree on the opposite side of the street that prevented it from going down the railway embankment.

"His decision to overtake a vehicle already doing around twice the speed limit is indicative of the fact that he was racing," insisted Mr Jones.

The passenger side of the car, where Miss Sahota was sitting, took the brunt of the impact. Neither she nor the driver were wearing seat belts.

The 23-year-old suffered fractures or breaks to her nose, left cheek, collarbone, knee and two ribs together with a collapsed lung, revealed the prosecutor. She has since had five operations during which screws and metal plates have been fitted with more surgery planned.

Miss Sahota, who completed her Masters degree shortly before the crash, admitted to fears for the future in a victim impact statement which explained she still had to undergo facial reconstruction surgery and was suffering from a lack of vision in one eye.

There is also the prospect of an MRI scan amid concerns about possible swelling of the brain, the court was told. Miss Sahota concluded: "I am extremely reliant on family and friends."

She had collected Javed and driven him to a hotel in Walsall less than three hours before the crash. He had to call three friends for help when the car failed to start as the couple prepared to leave.

The defendant sat in the driver's seat while they got the vehicle going again and then followed his friends in their VW Golf from the hotel car park 'at speed,' the court heard. Around a mile later he lost control of the Corsa.

Mr Stuart Clarkson, representing the defendant, did not accept that he was racing but conceded: "Perhaps that means little because of the speed he was doing and the manoeuvre he was undertaking when the car left the road."

The lawyer disclosed that Javed - who suffered broken neck bones in the smash - later sent the mother of the victim text messages which read: "I understand your blood is boiling and you could kill me if I was there. Everyone is praying for Simram. I shall take the punishment. It is all my fault and I apologise."

Mr Clarkson maintained: "Simram and the defendant are still seeing each other. This does not mean that she has forgiven him completely but shows that her feelings for him are complicated. Everybody hopes that her recovery is complete."

Javed, from Hart Street, Walsall admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

He was jailed by Judge Nicholas Webb who told him: "It seems you were racing, although you deny this. She was an attractive, successful young woman who has been left with long term problems. Her life and career have been put on hold. She is lucky to be alive and there is every hope that she will be able to rebuild her life."

The family of Miss Sahota declined to comment after the case.