A BBC health and safety administrator who crashed into an oncoming car as he fumbled to find a ringing mobile phone has narrowly escaped jail after his dangerous driving left the other motorist crippled.

Magistrates heard that after the collision, which left the other driver critically injured, Nicholas Whatcott, aged 25, showed no remorse for his dangerous driving.

He posted a message on the website Friends Reunited in which he made no mention of the victim - electrician Tim Roberts - and simply said he couldn't wait to get insured on his "next wagon."

Magistrates at Cheltenham banned Whatcott from driving for two years, ordered him to pay £206 costs and told him to do 240 hours of community work.

The court heard that Mr Roberts, 37, had to be cut free from his car after Whatcott had veered across the road and smashed into him.

Mr Roberts suffered serious injuries to his head, shoulder, neck, chest, ankles and feet.

He spent three weeks in hospital, four months in a wheelchair and now, ten months later, he is only able to walk with the aid of a stick and has been unable to go back to work.

Before the accident he had been a keen sportsman, running five to 10 miles a day and cycling about 16 miles a day to and from work.

The court was told that Whatcott, of Gorse Hill, Ashton-under-Hill, was driving to a football match with a friend when the crash happened on October 8 last year.

Derek Ryder, prosecuting, said at 7.05pm Whatcott was driving his Ford Escort along the A435 near Teddington in Gloucestershire.

Whatcott and his friend heard a mobile phone ringing in a jacket that was on the back seat of the car and both reached to get it.

Struggling to undo a zip to get at the phone, Whatcott lost control of the car.

Whatcott, a Sheffield Hallam University media studies graduate, works at the BBC Wood Norton training and development centre in Evesham.

Chairman of magistrates Professor Angela Newing said: "There is no doubt that you failed to maintain the standard of driving expected of a reasonable motorist.

"We have considered a custodial sentence but we did not think it's the right course because of your personal circumstances and employment.

"We have heard about the horrific injuries sustained by the other driver but the issue of compensation is not a matter for this court."