A DANGEROUS driver who nearly killed bis best friend in a crash after overtaking a car on a bend at 89mph was sent into custody.

Dylan Prole, 20, was told by a judge it was lucky that more than one person didn’t die in the three-vehicle collision on the A4043 at Abersychan.

Prosecutor Owen Williams said the defendant’s close pal Callum White, a passenger in his car, spent three weeks in intensive care at Cardiff's University of Wales Hospital.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how he suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken legs and pelvis, multiple fractured ribs and lacerations to his liver and spleen.

Judge Niclas Parry was told Prole also caused “significant injuries” to young mother Cherie McCarthy who sustained fractured ribs and a broken sternum while travelling in another vehicle with her husband and two children.

Mr Williams said Prole, of Cwmavon Road, Blaenavon, was driving towards Pontypool on Friday, April 7, 2017 just before 7pm when he overtook Roger Matthews in a Nissan on a bend while travelling at least 89mph on a 40mph road.

He told the court how the defendant lost control of his Ford Fiesta and crashed into a Toyota Aygo travelling in the opposite direction containing Pauline Pritchard and Angela Taylor before hitting Mrs McCarthy who was in a Ford S-Max driven by her husband Tom.

Mr Williams said: “Mr White suffered life-threatening injuries.”

He added how other road users who stopped and tried to help thought that Prole, who was also badly injured, and his friend had died in the crash.

They were taken to hospital by air ambulance. Prole pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Gareth Williams, mitigating for his client, who had no previous convictions, told the court the defendant had shown “genuine remorse” for what he had done.

He said: “Callum White was his best friend. They still go to the gym four times a week together and still socialise.”

His barrister said that Prole works, supports his mother and is the “primary carer” for her.

Judge Parry told the defendant: “It is rare to see a young man of impeccable character in the crown court. You have no previous convictions and are mature beyond your age.”

But he said he would have to send him into immediate custody, adding: “You will understand what you did on that day – you could have killed more than one person.”

Judge Parry sentenced Prole to 12 months of youth detention, banned him for driving for three years, told he must sit an extended driving test and ordered him to pay a surcharge.

Another defendant, Corey Keen, aged 22, of Griffiths Court, Blaenavon, was jailed for four months, suspended for 12 months, after he admitted dangerous driving in that he was at the wheel of an “unroadworthy” car.

Although not involved in the crash, he had driven through the scene in a Peugeot 307 Judge Parry branded a “death trap” that had cords showing from tyres, a faulty handbrake and no brake lights.

Keen was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, banned from driving for two years, told he must sit an extended driving test and pay a victim surcharge.