A MOTORIST who left a man in a coma for three weeks when he drove off with him clinging to his van has been jailed.

Israel Ayres, 24, had gone to buy a dog, but when the owner thought he was about to leave without paying, he grabbed onto the Ford Transit.

Witnesses said the van was driven off at speed with the man hanging on, before it collided with a lamppost, leaving him bloodied and lying on the pavement.

Andrew Walker, prosecuting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: “A witness saw and heard a commotion near a Ford Transit van. He heard men shouting and the van revving.

“He saw it pull away at speed and it swerved left and right. He saw it head towards a lamppost and heard a loud thud.

“He saw a person lying on the pavement. He was lying covered in debris from the van with blood coming from his head.

“Other drivers stopped to help. The defendant accelerated away and did not stop.”

The incident happened on Staindrop Road in West Auckland, County Durham, on February 28 last year.

The victim suffered brain injury, a complex fracture of the breastbone and broke his ribs, collarbone, four spinal bones and his pelvic bone.

He also suffered bruised lung tissue and a torn spleen.

The court was told he was in hospital for four weeks and the incident has had a significant effect on him.

Mr Walker said he is anxious of going out on his own and suffers from panic attacks in the street, especially when vans pass by.

Ayres dumped the Transit at an industrial estate in Bishop Auckland, but handed himself into police the following day.

Ayres, a member of the travelling community, whose address was given as Bellbrooke Avenue, Darfield, Barnsey, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving at a previous hearing.

A further charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent is to lie on file.

Graeme Cook, mitigating, said: “The injuries caused, although serious, are not the most serious. The complainant has not suffered permanent brain injury.”

Judge Tim Gittins sentenced him to 27 months in prison, and said he will be banned from driving for three years once he is released.

He said: “You should never have started to drive, or desisted as soon as you realised he was not going to let go.

“This was dangerous driving of a high order.”