A DANGEROUS driver who badly injured a couple after crashing into their car has been jailed.

Ben Peters, from Newport, was at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta when he hit a vehicle with Benjamin Lord and Emily Norville inside on the B4239 coast road.

Prosecutor Matthew Roberts told the city’s crown court that the defendant was driving at an excessive speed of at least 61mph around a bend in poor visibility.

Peters’ driving resulted in Mr Lord suffering a broken wrist and Ms Norville several fractures to the sternum and vertebrae.

He was also injured, breaking his nose and knee in the crash.

The defendant, aged 24, of Beech Grove, Duffryn, was due to go on trial but pleaded guilty before a jury was sworn in.

Peters admitted two counts of causing injury by dangerous driving on May 21, 2017 against Mr Lord and Ms Norville.

He also pleaded guilty to fraud in that he made a false representation to his insurance company by not telling them he had previously been disqualified from driving.

Karl Williams, mitigating, said his client had matured since causing last year’s collision and had admitted his guilt.

Judge Daniel Williams jailed Peters for a total of eight months for the three offences.

He will serve half of that time in custody before being released on licence.

The defendant was also disqualification from driving for three years, three months and 28 days and has to take an extended driving test.

He must also pay a £140 victim surcharge within 56 days of his release from prison.

Outside the court, A Gwent Police spokesperson said: "Peters was driving his Ford Fiesta at high speed and overtaking other cars dangerously on the coast road, not far from his home in Newport.

"He lost control, skidded across the road and collided head-on with an oncoming car containing a family on their way home after a day out.

"Peters broke his knee and nose, but the driver of the on-coming car and the front seat passenger in Peters’ car both sustained serious injuries, including fractures to the spine and sternum, leaving them in hospital for several days.

"His passenger’s injuries were so significant that she was forced to give up her dream career. Fortunately, the children in the other car escaped without any significant injury.

"It was later discovered that Peters had lied to his insurance company about his previous motoring offences in order to obtain insurance."

Police Constable Jon Williams added: “Throughout the investigation, Peters blamed everyone else and accepted no responsibility for his driving or the injuries that he caused, only changing his plea at the final opportunity.”