A DRIVER who fled the scene of a crash that left a young man with life-threatening injures has been jailed.

The collision happened on the B3091 Manston Road at Sturminster Newton last July and involved a Mini and a Chevrolet Kalos.

The Chevrolet was being driven by the defendant, Adam Christopher Whitticks, who appeared at Weymouth Magistrates' Court on Friday, February 1, to be sentenced.

The 21-year-old, of Coppice Street in Shaftesbury, had previously admitted charges of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident, driving without due care and attention, driving without a valid insurance and licence, and driving a vehicle when its condition was such that its use involved the danger of injury.

The front of Whitticks’ car was significantly damaged in the crash, but he drove off to the Sturminster Newton Gym and Leisure Centre in Honeymead Lane. He parked his car at the far end of the car park, with the front end in some bushes, and removed the rear number plate before going to a friend’s house.

Meanwhile, emergency services were called to the scene after the crash at 7.20pm. The driver of the Mini, a 19-year-old local man, was airlifted to Dorset County Hospital and was found to have a fractured skull and bleed on the brain. He remained in hospital for five days.

On Monday, July 9, four days after the crash, Whitticks visited Blandford Police Station following a press release appealing for information. He told officers he had been sleeping rough in Shillingstone Woods since the incident.

He admitted to driving without a licence and insurance and failing to stop at the scene of the collision, as well as failing to report it.

An examination of his car found that, due to the damage sustained in the crash, it was in a dangerous condition and posed a risk to other road users when the defendant drove it away from the scene. A collision investigation report also estimated that, at the time of the collision, Whitticks’ car was travelling at least 46mph in a 30mph zone.

He was sentenced to four months in prison and disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Police Constable Andy Fields, of Dorset Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: “This collision left the victim with serious head injuries that will have a long-lasting impact.

“Whitticks showed no concern for the injured man and was only thinking of himself when he made the decision to drive away from the scene. By driving a seriously damaged vehicle he also posed a further risk to other road users.

“He also made further attempts to conceal his actions by abandoning the car and removing the number plate.

“I hope the conclusion of the court case means the victim and his family can now move forward and I would like to thank them for their support during the investigation.”