A SPORTS car driver has been banned from the road after a head-on crash that left a woman badly injured.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Mrs Mona Klavins was in hospital for nine days after the accident on the A59 at Copster Green when she suffered a fractured breast bone, broken ribs and broken nose, and needed stitches to cuts on her legs.

Her husband Juiiljs, aged 74, a front seat passenger, was also injured and her car was a write-off.

John Linley, 21, of Kenilworth Drive, Clitheroe, admitted dangerous driving and was given a community service order for 100 hours, disqualified from driving for 18 months and ordered to take an extended re-test before he gets his licence back. He was also ordered to pay £120 costs.

Linley had originally pleaded not guilty and six prosecution witnesses attended court for what was expected to be a trial.

After discussions between the prosecution and defence, Linley entered a plea of guilty. Anthony Mazzag, prosecuting, said a Toyota MR2 driven by Linley was overtaking a line of other vehicles when Mrs Klavins' Honda, travelling towards Clitheroe, came into view.

"The Toyota driver was unable to gain his side of the road, braked, spun round and hit a lamp post before colliding with the Honda," said Mr Mazzag.

"Mrs Klavins later described how she saw the MR2 coming straight at her on her side of the road."

Brent Patterson, defending, said Linley only bought the vehicle a couple of days previously but he was not a boy racer.

"He was on his way to work as an engineer in Samlesbury and he was not late," said Mr Patterson.

"He thought he could safely pull out and overtake a line of five vehicles but he now accepts it was a stupid thing to do.

"It was quite clearly a misjudgment which had serious consequences and I can not emphasise enough how sorry he is for what happened."

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