A drugged up driver who seriously injured three friends when he crashed into another car has been locked up for 18 months.

Mason Owens had taken several drugs while attending a music event before getting behind the wheel to drive his pals more than 250 miles from Maidstone back to Liverpool.

But the 19-year-old university student only went a short distance down the road from the Detling Showground before carrying out a “reckless manoeuvre”.

Owens’ lawyer had submitted that the sentence could be suspended, but a judge said: “I feel driven to conclude these offences are so serious an immediate sentence of custody is demanded.

“Nothing less will do. Were I to take any other course I would be failing in my public duty, given that you chose to drive having taken a cocktail of illicit drugs.”

Owens, 29, of Tynwald Hill, Liverpool, admitted three offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, three of driving while over the specified limit for drugs, driving while unfit through drugs and failing to provide the driver’s identity.

He will be banned from driving for three years on serving half of the youth custody sentence.

Maidstone Crown Court heard on Friday Owens had been to The Social Festival and were heading home with Sam Richardson-Sefton, Ben Wall and Robert Tidmarsh at about 8pm on Saturday, September 30 last year.

Owens drove his Suzuki Alto towards Sittingbourne on the A249 dual carriageway and was about to turn into Rumstead Lane near Hucking to head back towards Maidstone when collided with a VW Golf driven by Andrea Marin.

Prosecutor Peter Alcock said all the passengers were taken to London’s King’s College Hospital.

Mr Wall suffered a broken pelvis and neck and internal injuries, Mr Richardson-Sefton a broken pelvis and spine and internal injuries and Mr Tidmarsh a broken neck, spine, collarbone and pelvis and a bad cut to his head.

Mr Wall and Mr Richardson-Sefton were detained in hospital until October 26. Owens was treated in hospital for bleed on the brain.

Mr Alcock said a small amount of cannabis was found in the Suzuki. A blood test showed that Owens was considerably over the prescribed limit allowed for ecstasy.

The limit is 10 milligrams and his reading was 293. He was slightly over the limit for ketamine and a cocaine product.

John Rowan, defending, said: “When he left to travel from Liverpool for an enjoyable couple of days, little did he expect or intend that just over 24 hours later he would be responsible for gravely injuring three of his close friends.

“A day has not gone by when he hasn’t thought about his actions and wished he could turn back the clock. He has not driven since.

“He can’t see a day when he will want to get back behind the wheel again, such is his remorse and shock about what happened.

“It was entirely his choice to consume drugs the day before this incident. He didn’t appreciate they would still be having an effect on him hours later.

“He knows he should not have driven that night and he will never forgive himself.”

Mr Rowan said despite Owens’ actions, his friends did not blame him or have any animosity for him.

“He is an intelligent and well-rounded young man,” he said. “His parents are professionals. They are ashamed and shocked.”

Owens studied music at college and was about to start his second year at university in September. He was a talented musician.

“He has a bright future ahead of him,” said Mr Rowan.

“He knows he faces leaving the court by a different exit to the one he arrived at this morning.”

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told the teenager: “On any view, this was a serious collision indeed, caused by your very dangerous manoeuvre.

“The presence of three substances in your blood is even more serious. You yourself are extremely fortunate. Your passengers were less fortunate.

“You were under the influence of a cocktail of illicit drugs. Your ability to drive was impaired.

"That is the only explanation for this catastrophic piece of driving.”

The judge said he accepted Owens’ remorse was genuine. His friends' “warm and forgiving sentiments” were especially touching in the circumstances.

“It is clear you are a bright, hardworking and generally decent young man,” he added.

“You are a talented musician with a bright future.

“I recognised an immediate sentence of custody is likely to have serious consequences for your progress in the short to immediate term.

“I also recognise this dreadful incident represents a tragedy not just for your victims, but for you too. I have no doubt the implications will live with you for a long time.”

Speaking after sentencing, sergeant Hannah Brown said: "Owens’ irresponsible and reckless behaviour could have easily had fatal consequences.

"As it is, those who were travelling in his car have suffered some very serious injuries which could have profound health implications for the rest of their lives.

"The results of his blood test were alarming and prove he was clearly not in a fit state to drive.

"He has shown absolutely no regard for legal drug drive limits or for the safety of his passengers and fellow roads users and a custodial sentence was therefore inevitable."