AN ‘arrogant’ young driver who caused a head-on crash by crossing a solid white line onto the wrong side of the road claimed his victim should have moved out of his way, a court heard.

Kyle Garforth’s “moment of madness” on the A6072 near Shildon, County Durham left the other driver, Paul Bailey, with a shattered knee cap and his passenger and friend Luke Mills fighting for his life – and yesterday landed him behind bars.

Sitting at Durham Crown Court, Judge Christopher Prince sentenced the 22-year-old to two years and three months in jail, saying: “This court has a duty to deter people from causing serious injury to other road users.”

Earlier, the court heard while Garforth, of Auckland Terrace, Shildon, deeply regretted the injuries to Mr Mills, he told a probation worker Mr Bailey should have “moved out of his way”, leading the officer call him "arrogant".

While Garforth’s barrister, Uzma Khan, claimed he was remorseful for his actions committed in a "moment of madness", Judge Prince said his concern was much more for himself than for others.

The crash happened shortly after midday on Sunday, November 9, when Garforth was driving a VW Passat west on the A6072 towards Bishop Auckland.

He crossed a solid white line and collided head-on with Mr Bailey’s vehicle, also a VW Passat, heading eastbound.

Mr Bailey swerved into the eastbound slow lane, but Garforth did the same and then lost control, the court heard.

Garthforth’s front seat passenger, his girlfriend, suffered whiplash. Mr Bailey’s passenger was left bruised.

Mr Bailey was in hospital for nine days and then had to live downstairs for four months.

His Christmas was ruined, he was unable to go out to celebrate his silver wedding anniversary or his daughter’s 18th birthday, he may have to have his knee replaced, still worries about getting into a car and may not be able to return to work, the court heard.

Mr Mills suffered a fractured skull, eye and back and was placed into an induced coma. However, he remains friends with Garforth and sent a glowing reference to the court.

Garforth, who failed to stop and report a quad bike crash in 2012, initially made no comment in police interview but later admitted two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.