A YOUNG driver who crashed into a parked car, leaving its passenger fighting for her life, is behind bars.

Matthew Dale, 20, lost control of his turbo-charged Vauxhall Corsa and crashed into a Citroen C3 parked outside the Grand Electric Hall pub in Cheapside, Spennymoor, County Durham on the morning of Tuesday, June 9.

The Citroen was sent careering along the pavement and 59-year-old Dawn Horniman, who was sat inside, suffered serious head injuries and had to be airlifted to hospital.

The Northern Echo: SCENE: The aftermath of the crash in Cheapside, Spennymoor Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Dale, of Binchester Moor, Spennymoor, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was today (Thursday, July 30) sentenced to three years in a Young Offenders' Institution.

Sitting at Durham Crown Court, Judge Christopher Prince told Dale his driving could hardly have been worse and it was "virtually inevitable" someone would be killed or seriously injured.