Unqualified driver jailed for three years after Willenhall smash which left a passenger badly injured

Luke Devey, who had no driving licence, had taken the wheel of the car 'out of boredom' and was travelling a more than twice the speed limit when disaster struck in Stringes Lane, Willenhall, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 23-year-old lost control of the Peugeot 206, clipped a curb, ploughed into a telegraph pole and ricochetted into three parked cars before coming to a standstill after spinning a full circle.

Devey fled from the scene without checking on the condition of his three passengers, one of whom fractured a vertebrae in her back and received a bad cut that left her with a disfiguring scar from hairline to forehead, explained Miss Sally Hancox, prosecuting.

The defendant had already had one accident after being allowed to take control of the Peugeot by its owner who was sitting in the front passenger seat. He reversed into a car on an industrial estate on the outskirts of Cannock, the court heard.

Miss Hancox continued: "After this he increased the speed at which he was travelling and by the time he reached Willenhall he was reaching 70 mph in a 30 and 40 limits.

"The owner of the car was so scared by the fast and erratic driving that she told him to slow down, turn round and take her back to her home. The other passengers were also unhappy with the way he was handling the vehicle but he laughed off their requests to reduce his speed. He was cutting up other motorists and drove straight over a round about."

An eyewitness later told police that the Peugeot appeared to be out of control before the crash on December 17. Davey made no comment when questioned after being traced by police.

Miss Jodie Smith, defending, said he had been diagnosed as bipolar and added: "His passengers all knew that he had no licence and no experience of driving. He asked to drive the car out of boredom rather than anything else."

Devey from St Anne's Road, Willenhall, who was the subject of a community order imposed for assault when the incident occurred, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident and having neither a licence nor insurance.

He was sent to prison for three years and banned from driving for five years by Judge Kristina Montgomery QC who told him: "You ignored the pleas of friends who told you to slow down and were driving at a very significant speed when you completely lost control of the car. You then ran off without checking the condition of your passengers. These were selfish and cowardly actions."