A former professional motorcyclist left a mum-of-three with “catastrophic” injuries after forcing her car off the road and into a hedge.

James Camier, known as David, had consumed so much alcohol before causing the serious crash on the A28 near Bethersden he was still three times over the limit five hours later.

The innocent victim – hard-working mother-of-three Chloe Dean, 28 - was left with multiple fractures and is still unable to drive or work six months after the accident.

Now Camier - dad of World Superbike rider and former British Superbike champion Leon - has been jailed for three-and-a-half years at Canterbury Crown Court.

The 66-year-old, of Green Lane, Bethersden, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving following the accident on Saturday, March 17.

Prosecutor Ed Fowler told the court how Camier had earlier been drinking in the Bull Inn, Bethersden, at 12.30pm.

He returned to the pub at 3.45pm and continued drinking before getting into his Mercedes convertible and driving towards Tenterden, narrowly missing one car.

Mr Fowler said that during Camier’s journey he began driving erratically, stopping and starting and swerving across the road.

The Mercedes smashed into Ms Dean’s Fiat Punto at about 5.50pm, sending it through a hedge.

She was taken to hospital with multiple fractures and was treated for several weeks for numerous fractures of her eye socket, sternum, elbow, ankle and is still recovering.

On the day of the accident, Ms Dean had been working at Crew Clothing in Tenterden before leaving to work as a waitress at the Bull Inn.

Mr Fowler said Ms Dean – from Ruckinge - could recall nothing of the horror smash.

Camier, who was also hurt, was taken to hospital claiming he had had “a few drinks” – but tests revealed he was almost three times the drink-drive limit hours later.

Judge Heather Norton told him Ms Dean had been left with “catastrophic” injuries as she drove in a professional, safe and competent manner.

She said: “I have seen the photographs... it was a miracle that anyone survived the crash.

"It was a miracle that anyone survived the crash..." - Judge Heather Norton

“You got into a car having been drinking and knowing you had been drinking...making a deliberate and conscious decision to drive.

“Witnesses have spoken of your erratic driving, stopping and starting and swerving across the road into the opposite lane.

“At one point narrowly missing another vehicle - the victim was not so lucky.”

The court heard Camier was a former professional motor cyclist who is planning to move to Andorra where his two sons live.

Judge Norton jailed him for three-and-a-half years and banned him from driving for 81 months.

Earlier this year, a fundraising campaign set up to help Ms Dean's family raised more than £14,000, smashing its £10,000 target.