A DRIVER high on drink and drugs who crashed his girlfriend’s car, leaving his friend fighting for his life in a coma, has been told he faces jail.

Christopher Knowles appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday facing multiple driving charges following a crash in the city’s Tolladine Road which left his friend, front seat passenger Daniel Mark Clark, in a semi-conscious state.

Knowles, aged 28, of Freemans Close, Twyning, near Tewkesbury, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving with excess alcohol, using a vehicle without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence following the crash, on Saturday, May 4.

The court heard how Knowles was behind the wheel of his girlfriend’s Peugeot 206, which he was driving without her knowledge or consent, when the crash happened.

Jackie Rogers, prosecuting, said Knowles had taken the keys from his girlfriend’s handbag and driven the car to Worcester when he lost control and crashed into a Mercedes Sprinter van at about 2.40am.

Mrs Rogers said the van had been stationary and waiting to turn into a side road when Knowles crashed into it.

She said: “Mr Clark, who was the passenger, was left with very serious head and body injuries.”

His consultant described the injuries Mr Clark suffered as “extremely severe”.

In September, the last update the prosecution had, Mr Clark was still in a semi-conscious state and had lost control of his mobility and his sensory functions, remaining in a high dependency unit in Leamington Spa.

He was still said to be “in a poor state” because of the head injury he sustained in the crash.

Further checks with West Mercia Police revealed Mr Clark suffered a bleed on the brain, collapsed lung, broken ribs and pelvis.

However, police had no further updates on Mr Clark’s progress, suggesting his condition has since stabilised.

Knowles was also injured, suffering a fractured jaw, pelvis and broken ribs. The driver of the van was not badly hurt, suffering a whiplash type injury.

A breath test on Knowles revealed 42mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg.

He also told officers he had taken the controversial party drug meph-edrone, also known as MCAT.

The court heard he had two previous convictions for theft and one for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mark Turnbull, defending, said investigations had revealed a brake defect with the vehicle, which may have been a contributory factor in the crash and could have caused the vehicle to veer to the right.

“Knowles deeply regrets what has happened,” he said.

“Mr Clark is a friend of his and he is very sorry for what happened.”

District judge Nigel Cadbury decided the case was serious enough for it to be committed to Worcester Crown Court for sentencing.

He said: “I’m not saying it is inevitable you will receive a sentence longer than six months but it is a possibility.”

Knowles will next appear at Worcester Crown Court on January 3. A pre-sentence report was ordered which will keep all sentencing options open.