'Show off' unlicensed driver injured friend in car smash then asked him to lie to police about the incident

Curtis Petch, who had no driving licence or insurance, drove "well above" the speed limit before clipping the kerb on a roundabout and flipping the vehicle onto its roof.

Leeds Crown Court heard the incident happened where Southmoor Road meets the A628 Hemsworth bypass on August 4 last year

Camille Morland, prosecuting, said Petch, 23, had been with friends at a house on South Street in Hemsworth.

Petch took his friend's Hyundai and drove to a cash machine to get money for more alcohol and took two passengers with him in the vehicle.

After collecting the cash Petch then drove off at speed. Petch told one of his passengers to be quiet when he was asked to slow down

He went round the roundabout twice before pulling up the handbrake and losing control.

When the car came to a standstill on it roof, the three of them were able to crawl out through a window, but one cut his left hand badly.

Petch then told the others they needed to run because he had no licence or insurance.

He also asked his friend to lie to the police.

But the police did not believe his story and he quickly told the truth.

He also needed surgery on his hand to have metal plates and splints inserted.

Petch, of Hamel Rise, Hemsworth, admitted a charge of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The court was told he had no previous convictions at the time of the offence, but had since been convicted of possessing an offensive weapon.

Stephen Littlewood, mitigating, said Petch was adamant he had not been drinking that day, but had been dealing with family issues at the time including the death of a family member.

Petch has been held on remand at HMP Leeds after failing to answer to custody nearly a month ago.

The defendant could be seen and heard sobbing over the video link from the prison during the hearing.

"He is at a turning point in his life, he can either stay in prison and live the life of a criminal, or, in his own words, grow up."

Recorder Jeremy Hill-Baker suggested Petch had been "showing off" that day but accepted that his mental health had been greatly affected during that period.

He said: "You were obviously at rock bottom when you went into custody. You have expressed genuine remorse.

"There's little doubt that prison has had a scarring effect on you."

Petch was given 20-month jail sentence, suspended two years.

He was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and was banned from driving for two years..