A DRIVER jailed for six years for causing a 'catastrophic' crash which left two people in intensive care has had his prison term nearly halved on appeal.

Nathan Jenkins, 27, from Hengoed, did not have a full driving licence, was unsupervised, uninsured, and was driving his ex-girlfriend's car at more than 70 miles per hour in a 30mph zone at the time of the crash in May 2013.

He plowed into the car of married couple, Sian and Alan Williams, who were driving home on the B4251 in their Rover car towards Oakdale from Pengam at around 8pm on May 14, 2013.

Jenkins' vehicle careered into the wrong lane and slammed head-on into their car. Those who saw the scene in the aftermath described it as "horrific".

London's Appeal Court heard today how Jenkins, formerly of Bronwydd in Oakdale, was jailed for six years at Newport Crown Court last June after he admitted two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

But three top judges at London's Appeal Court today upheld a sentence challenge by the serial offender.

They said his jail term was excessive and slashed it to three years and seven months.

CCTV footage showed Jenkins travelling at 73mph shortly before the collision, with an off-duty police officer who'd observed his driving blasting the "idiocy" of his actions.

Mr and Mrs Williams and Jenkins all had to be cut from their vehicles.

Mr Williams, 58, suffered a broken arm, an open fracture to his leg, smashed ribs, a fractured ankle and other serious injuries, which left him wheelchair-bound for some time.

His wife, 51, had a shattered arm, cracked ribs, a punctured lung and nerve damage, spending two days in intensive care and three more in a high dependency unit.

The accident had a devastating impact on the couple, with Mr Williams saying: "We no longer have our health.

"We have no vehicle; we are financially drained. Both of our lives are dramatically changed forever."

Jenkins also admitted driving without insurance and driving without a full licence.

The judge who jailed him said he'd been "showing off" and had not learned from an earlier accident.

He had previous convictions for 23 offences, including for driving without due care and attention, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

Jenkins was handed two terms of three years' imprisonment, each to run consecutive, for the serious injury counts. He was also disqualified from driving for 10 years.

On appeal, his lawyers argued that his overall punishment was far too tough.

Lord Justice Treacy, sitting with Mrs Justice Swift and Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, agreed, adding: "It seems to us that Jenkins' point is a good one.

"Consecutive sentences should not have been imposed."

He concluded: "We allow this appeal by quashing the sentences imposed below.

"In their place, we impose concurrent sentences of three years and seven months on each count."

Speaking after the initial sentencing in June last year, Mrs Williams told the Argus she was pleased with the sentence, and said she hoped her family could gain some closure.