A dangerous driver was 'more interested' in checking damage to his BMW than checking on the victim of a crash who lay unconscious on the floor, a court heard.
Joseph Hammond caused a head-on crash with a Renault Clio while overtaking another car, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
The 21-year-old was tailgating before he tried to pull out, the court heard, and didn't see the Clio coming on the other side of the road.
The driver of the Clio was knocked unconscious, but a witness said Hammond was seen picking up pieces that had broken off from his car, rather than helping the casualty.
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He was also heard saying: "The ****ing retard pulled out on me".
The 63-year-old victim was taken to hospital and suffered a fractured arm and multiple broken ribs.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard how the crash has had a severe impact on his life, and he has had to move into a bungalow and relies on being supported by his elderly mum.
Prosecutor Omar Majid said the crash happened on Ash Bank Road, Werrington, at 9.25am on January 21. He said conditions were wet as it had been snowing the previous day but there was no snow on the roads.
Mr Majid said: "A motorist was driving towards Stoke when the defendant started driving behind him in his BMW and tailgating by driving very close to his rear bumper.
"The motorist was going at 40mph - the speed limit - and the defendant was weaving about behind him, pulling out and pulling back in. There has been a number of opportunities where the motorist could have been safely overtaken but the defendant did not do that.
"The motorist saw a Renault Clio pulling out of a driveway. He had no cause for concern about what the driver of the Clio was doing. However the defendant decided at that point he would accelerate and try to overtake.
"He overtook at speed and collided head on with the Clio. The defendant's BMW came to rest on the pavement. The Clio was knocked some considerable distance.
"The driver of the Clio was unconscious. The motorist who was overtaken remembers the defendant saying, 'The ******* retard pulled out on me', and was more interested in picking up pieces of his car than checking on the victim.
The victim received a fractured arm, a head injury which affected his memory, and multiple fractures to his ribs. He had surgery on his arm and ribs.
In a victim statement the man, a former HGV driver, said he has moved into a bungalow and his 86-year-old mother is now supporting him.
Police found some knuckle dusters in the defendant's car which he admitted were his.
He said he was having problems with some lads from Bentilee. He said he would not have used them and they were just there to scare some people away.
Hammond, of Parklands Road, Upper Tean, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and two charges of possessing an offensive weapon.
Anis Ali, mitigating, said: "He accepts he had fallen short of what was required of a competent or careful driver.
"Having realised the man was less than conscious he returned to his vehicle to recover his mobile phone which was smashed in the crash so he was unable to contact the ambulance but fortunately there were others who intervened and assisted.
"He described his conduct as stupid and foolish. He does apologise and that remorse is genuine and sincere. He has learnt a salutary lesson. It is unlikely this young man will appear before the courts again."
Judge Paul Glenn said in his judgement only immediate custody could be justified.
Hammond was jailed for 14 months and disqualified from driving for two-and-a-half years.
This was extended by seven months to account for the time the defendant will serve in prison.
Judge Glenn said: "You were behind a Fiat Punto looking to overtake and you were tailgating.
"The victim had pulled out of his driveway perfectly properly. You overtook the Punto which resulted in a head-on crash.
"He was seriously injured. The independent evidence is you showed no concern at all at that stage. On the contrary you sought to blame him and referred to him as a ******* retard.
"You now appear to recognise the seriousness of your actions."
