A YOUNG unqualified motorist, responsible for two of the worst pieces of drink driving a judge has heard of, is beginning a 39-month sentence behind bars.

Leon Ferry, 19, ignored passengers’ pleas to slow down and left both seriously injured after crashing his then partner’s car into a tree in the early hours of May 6.

Durham Crown Court heard that while that incident was still under investigation he took the car of a friend’s grandfather and was involved in a 20-minute high speed chase in which two police cars were damaged and put out of action, in the early hours of October 26.

The court was told his girlfriend at the time of the first incident suffered life-changing injuries, for which she is still receiving treatment.

Both the 28-year-old woman, a front seat passenger, and a 21-year-old rear seat passenger, were initially left unconscious after Ferry lost control of the Ford Fiesta, mounted a kerb and struck the tree, between Ushaw Moor and Esh Winning.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said Ferry told police, on arrival at the scene, that the driver had run off, leading to an unnecessary search with dogs in woodland.

Mr Baker said in the second incident Ferry drove a Kia Sportage, after again drinking, reaching speeds above 90-miles per hour, taking roundabouts in the wrong direction and shunting into two police vehicles.

After abandoning the car in Rock Terrace, New Brancepeth, he and a passenger fled and were later found hiding.

Ferry, now 20, of Doric Road, New Brancepeth, admitted two charges each of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol, without insurance and a licence, plus aggravated vehicle taking, and dangerous driving.

Liam O’Brien, mitigating said Ferry is not, “an habitual reckless driver”, with only one previous motoring offence, but he was “immature”, placing passengers and other road users at risk.

Passing a total sentence of three years and three months in a young offenders’ institution, Judge Christopher Prince said both incidents were among the worst pieces of driving in his judicial experience.

He also banned Ferry from driving for two years on his release from custody.