A DRIVER speeding from Wolverly smashed into another car at high speed after failing to slow down when he reached a junction, seriously injuring the people inside.

Dustman Adam Cooper, 21, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice, failing to stop after a crash and two counts of having defective tyres.

He was handed an 18-month community order at Worcester Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard he had been speeding along the B4189 from Wolverley and crashed into a silver Ford Fiesta at the junction with the A442 Bridgnorth Road at around 10.15pm on September 14 last year.

The driver, Dale Woods, was left with multiple injuries, including a double fracture to his left arm, which needed surgery and metal pins inserted, while the passenger suffered bruising and whiplash.

Cooper and his passengers, however, fled the scene, leaving his red Volkswagen Polo behind.

Two days later, he tried to report it stolen to police.

"This was an attempt to pervert the course of justice by removing the blame from himself," prosecutor Nazneen Sultan told the court.

"He was clearly speeding. He caused a great deal of injury to others and damage to another vehicle."

Judge Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC ordered him to serve an 18-month community order, including 12 months supervision and 150 hours of unpaid work.

Cooper, of Ridgeway Road, Stourbridge, was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and told he must pay £500 court costs.

"It was a single event, combined with some inexperience, travelling at high speed and failing to appreciate the danger he faced," the judge said.

"There are many other good aspects of his character and he does appear to have a good work ethic."

Defending, Julian Harris said Cooper was hard working and fully employed as a dustman, arguing that a spell behind bars would do more harm than good.

"He does have sympathy for the victims and he is extremely sorry," he added.