Jailed: Driver who smashed into elderly couple's Mercedes after falling asleep at the wheel

Brian and Doreen Fox were badly hurt when Declan Gibson's Seat Leon ploughed in to them on the main A460 in Essington.

The couple's nearly-new £8,000 car was written off, with 72-year-old Mrs Fox trapped inside.

Gibson, aged 22, tried to run off but was pursued by other motorists who had stopped at the scene, Stafford Crown Court heard.

Gibson, of Waddens Brook Lane, Wednesfield, admitted two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was locked up for 12 months.

Judge Michael Chambers QC told him: "You knew you were tired, as you told the probation officer you had stopped for 10 minutes for tiredness, but I'm afraid you continued thereby taking a significant risk for other road users.

"At the scene you initially admitted to Mr Fox that you had been tired and fell asleep but you aggravated the matter by running off and were apprehended by members of the public."

Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting, said the crash happened on November 1 last year, just after dark.

Mr Fox, 74, was driving with his wife as passenger when they saw a car come on to their side of the road and collide head-on.

Although hurt, Mr Fox got out and was concerned for the other driver, Gibson, who admitted it was his fault and he had fallen asleep but then ran off, the court heard.

Firemen had to cut Mrs Fox free from the wreckage by taking off the door. She suffered two cuts to her legs, which later ulcerated, and was covered in bruises. Her husband had a fractured sternum and breast bone and had difficulty breathing. Both were rushed to hospital in Wolverhampton for treatment.

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Fox said the crash had restricted her movements significantly and she had to have a blood transfusion. She now has no feeling in her upper right leg. Her husband said he had been affected psychologically as well as physically.

Mr Spratt said the Crown's case was that Gibson had lost concentration and fallen asleep at the wheel.

Mr Neil Gerrity, defending, said Gibson did not accept that he had been apprehended by members of the public.

"He immediately admitted responsibility for the accident. It was no surprise he was in a state of shock. People did go after him, he returned to the scene, not kicking and screaming, he was not under restraint," Mr Gerrity said.

"It is not the case where he had alcohol or lack of documents, he was fully insured. As soon as he saw he had caused serious injury to these people, he pleaded guilty.

"His remorse for what happened, his sorrow and guilt at the injuries is genuine."