A steel company executive posed as the driver of a car involved in a crash which left a passenger paralysed for life.

Father-of-two Martin Ord, 50, lied to police to cover up the fact the driver had been his son David, 23 who had been driving at twice the speed limit and almost three times the drink-drive limit.

When forensic experts examined the airbag from the wreckage of the Ford Fiesta which had crashed on the A256 at Richborough - they discovered the son's DNA.

Now father and son, of Sandwich Road, Cliffsend in Ramsgate are facing the possibility of jail sentences.

David was with two friends driving south along the road in the early hours of the morning when he lost control overturning the car.

Prosecutor James Bilsland told Canterbury Crown Court how the welder and fabricator had escaped with minor injuries in the crash - but one passenger was thrown out of the window and a second suffered horrific injuries.

Benjamin Barnes was rushed to the QEQM hospital and later transferred to Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Bucks with serious spinal injuries.

Mr Bilsland said doctors diagnosed that Benjamin, who is in his early 20's, will be paralysed "for the rest of his life".

The court heard how David telephoned his father from the scene of the 3.40am accident in May last year.

"That road was the subject to a 30mph limit because of a new roundabout being built. The Fiesta hit the kerb and ended up on its roof.

"David was the driver, a passenger called Daniel Stringer was thrown out of the front window and Mr Barnes, who was in the rear seat, was also injured in the crash."

He said that the car had been travelling at between 49 to 62 mph at the time of the accident.

"David then telephoned his father after the collision who then drove from his home and reached the scene before the emergency services.

"It became very clear that Ben was quite severely injured and he attended to him," he added.

Meanwhile David jumped into his father's car and fled the scene, the court was told.

When police arrived Martin claimed that he had been at the wheel of the car and carried on that lie at the hospital, Mr Bilsland said.

Ben had chest injuries, a collapsed lung and a dislocation of the ninth and tenth vertebrae and was transferred to the specialist hospital.

Mr Bilsland said Martin Ord was released at the scene and went home and "very quickly" went to the QEQM Hospital inquiring after Mr Barnes.

"When he was there he spoke to the police who by then suspected the son had been driving but he continued his assertions that he was the driver."

Later the same day, David was breathalised and its reading was within the legal drink-drive limit.

But Mr Bilsland said that a back calculation revealed that he was between two and a half to three times over the limit.

It was only on May 27 that Martin eventually admitted in interview that he had lied to police.

Philip Rowley, for the son, who admitted driving while unfit through drink and leaving the scene of an accident, said: "He is wholly remorseful and deeply sorry for what happened. This happened when he was in drink.

"This will remain with him for the rest of his life."

Nicholas Jinks, for the father, who admitted perverting the course of justice, said he had now lost the possibility of becoming a director of the Canterbury-based Parkersteel where he has worked for six years.

He said that it was only after talking to a priest, that Ord senior decided to tell the police the truth.

Both were remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Monday.