"what can only be described as catastrophic injuries."
Mohammed Yaqub, aged 21, of Normanton, Derby, was jailed for three years and four months for a horror crash which caused his friend life-changing injuries. The speeding driver crashed head-on into a tree on Derby ring road.
His friend of 15 years suffered such catastrophic injuries that more than a year on, he still has no independent movement and has to be fed through a tube.
Abigail Joyce, prosecuting, said the crash happened at around 8:30 pm on May 8, 2019.
Yaqub, who was unlicensed and uninsured, had been driving a Toyota Corolla and racing against a dark-coloured car which has never been traced.
He lost control of the vehicle and went headfirst into a tree, leaving his friend with serious injuries.
Yaqub was taken to hospital after giving police false details before running off. He eventually handed himself in more than five hours later.
Miss Joyce said drink and drug driving tests were negative.
She said: “CCTV evidence gathered from houses saw experts calculate that the speed of the Toyota was between 61.75mph and 87.15mph in the 40mph limit.
“The victim, who was sat in the front passenger seat suffered what can only be described as catastrophic injuries.
“As well as the fractures part of his skull had to be removed and replaced with a metal plate. He has been moved between hospital in Derby, Nottingham and a specialist brain unit in Leicester.
“He still cannot purposefully move his limbs, has no spontaneous speech and is unable to take food or fluid by mouth. He requires a hoist to move.”
In an impact statement made by the victim’s family, they said:
“He was a lively, fun-loving person until the accident which has caused life-changing injuries.
“He worked as a track worker and had ambitions to work for Network Rail and own his own house. The impact of this both physically and emotionally has been huge.
“We hope the perpetrator recognises the devastating impact this has had on everyone?”
The speeding driver pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving without a valid licence or insurance.
In mitigation, Steve Cobley said:
“The defendant and the victim have been friends since they were six years old and he knows he is now facing, at the age of 21, his first custodial sentence because of his terrible, illegal actions.
“He made a series of terrible decisions on May 8, 2019, and he is desperately sorry.”
Recorder William Harbage QC told the speeding driver:
“Your dangerous driving has caused catastrophic, life-changing injuries.
“It is a near-death case, the injuries are as bad as you can get without someone losing their life.
“He had a fractured skull, a fractured spine, fractured ribs, a collapsed lung, lacerations to his spleen and a traumatic brain injury.
“He still has to be fed by a tube and has pretty much no hope of independent living for the rest of his life.
“That was all caused by your bad driving, that was your responsibility.
“You were speeding at between 62mph and 87mph and I am entirely satisfied you were racing (another car).
“Whichever end of the scale it was, this loss of control was caused by your grossly excessive speed and your inexperience.
“I am told that you think about this every day? I hope that you do.”
Yaqub was jailed for three years and four months. He was also banned from driving for five years and eight months.
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