AN unqualified Dudley driver who sent a pedestrian cartwheeling into the air after he ploughed into him during a “joy ride” in Cradley Heath has been jailed.

Talwinder Sandhu, aged 22, had been smoking cannabis before he mowed down 42-year-old Robert Wylde.

The Peugeot 308, which had been taken without permission, then crashed into the Wizard and Glass pub in Cradley Road, damaging decking and brickwork.

Mr Wylde, who had been on the pavement using his mobile phone, was seriously injured and had to be put into an induced coma for four days, said Mark Phillips, prosecuting.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Mr Wylde broke both legs, his ankle, his right knee, his arm and also fractured his spine when he was struck by the car.

Sandhu had been driving at no more than 40mph in what was a 30mph limit when he inexplicably lost control of the car, went onto the wrong side of the road and mounted the pavement.

Mr Phillips said Sandhu was also badly injured in the accident adding, “He was hanging out of the driver’s door with his legs trapped inside while Mr Wyle suffered life changing injuries.”

He told the court Mr Wylde had to spend six weeks in hospital and had undergone 10 operations and had metal plates inserted in both his back and arm.

Sandhu, of Blowers Green Road, also received hospital treatment and after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving he was given an interim driving ban.

But just three weeks later, he was caught driving erratically at the wheel of another car - a Ford Focus that was displaying false registration plates.

He admitted driving while disqualified, without a licence or insurance and breaching a suspended sentence imposed for permitting the production of cannabis.

Judge Mark Eades jailed him for 38 months and told him he would be banned from driving for three years from the date of his release from custody and added, “You took a car and went on a joy ride.

“Nobody seems to know how you had the crash but you drove down the wrong side of the road and onto the pavement causing significant and serious injury to Mr Wylde.”

Bernard Porter, defending, said Sandhu had little recollection of the accident.

“He took the Peugeot without permission and he was just enjoying the thrill of driving - something he was not capable of doing. There is no medical or mechanical explanation for the accident.”

In a victim impact statement Mr Wylde said he had been using his mobile and the next thing he knew he was waking up in hospital.

“I am still suffering from the injuries and I am nowhere near as mobile as I was,” he said.

“Day to day life has changed totally. I will walk with a permanent limp and I will never be able to ride a bike again.

"To be honest - I am just happy to be alive and to have a second chance at life.”