A DRIVER high on drink and drugs who crashed his girlfriend’s car leaving his friend fighting for his life in a coma has been told he faces jail.

Christopher Knowles appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court facing multiple driving charges following a crash in Worcester’s Tolladine Road which left passenger Daniel Mark Clark in a semi-conscious state with severe head injuries, a bleed on the brain, collapsed lung and broken ribs and pelvis.

Knowles, aged 28, of Freemans Close, Twyning, near Upton, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving with excess alcohol, using a vehicle without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence following the crash on Saturday, May 4.

The court was told how Knowles drove his girlfriend’s Peugeot 206 without her knowledge or consent, when the crash happened.

Jackie Rogers, prosecuting, said Knowles had lost control and crashed into a Mercedes van which had been waiting to turn.

A breath test revealed 42mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, the legal limit being 35mcg. Knowles also told officers he had taken the party drug mephedrone, also known as MCAT.

The court heard he had two previous convictions for theft and one for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mark Turnbull, defending, said investigations had revealed a brake defect with the vehicle, which may have been a contributory factor in the crash and could have caused the vehicle to veer to the right.

He said: “Mr Clark is a friend of his and he is very sorry for what happened.”

District judge Nigel Cadbury said: “I’m not saying it is inevitable you will receive a sentence longer than six months but it’s a possibility.”

Knowles will appear at Worcester Crown Court on January 3.