A young driver, who was so drunk that he could not remember knocking down a pedestrian in a hit-and-run accident, has been jailed for 12 months. Mark Hubbard, 19, from Welshpool, drove erratically and without his headlights, Mold Crown Court heard.
He admitted driving dangerously, drink driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
The court was told that Hubbard had drunk up to 10 pints beer. His victim suffered whiplash and knee injuries.
Judge, Recorder Michael Chambers QC, also banned Hubbard from driving for three years and ordered that he take an extended driving test.
The court heard how Charlie Birch had stepped out into the road to warn Hubbard he was driving without his lights on in Welshpool at 0200 GMT on 8 January.
But the court was told that Hubbard did not appear to slow down or try and avoid Mr Birch, but seemed to accelerate as he drove at him.
He later abandoned his car and ran off and was only arrested after a police chase on foot.
Just before the accident, officers had noticed Hubbard's Ford Escort car and later saw the accident unfold, the court heard.
Hubbard was found to be almost three times the drink drive limit with 92 micrograms of alcohol in his breath, compared with the legal limit of 35. He had been drinking in a nightclub, the court was told.
'No memory'
Andrew Clarke, prosecuting, said: "The defendant did not deviate, neither did he slow down. The officers say that he appeared to accelerate. No brake lights came on.
"The Escort hit Mr Birch head on and he was thrown into the air, described by one officer as being 'like a rag doll'".
Simon Mills, defending, said that his client had no memory of the incident but appreciated how serious it was.
"The defendant has no memory of these offences, sadly," Mr Mills said.
