A man caused a pile-up outside a primary school as children were leaving after he drove on the wrong side of the road and crashed head-on into another car.

Despite having no licence or insurance, Ryan Jarvis had taken his mother’s left-hand drive BMW without consent and was trying to escape from the police when he smashed into the other car.

George Turner’s Ford C-Max was propelled backwards into an Arriva bus. The BMW also hit an Age UK minibus with elderly passengers.

Mr Turner was left with his hands covered in blood and a fractured wrist which needed surgery. He suffered pain to his neck and spine.

Jarvis, who lost his leg shortly before the crash, was jailed for 14 months on Friday after a judge told him: “Your record and your driving are quite appalling. It is a mercy no one was seriously hurt.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard Jarvis’ mother lived in South Africa and the car had been imported from Gibraltar. She asked Jarvis’ stepbrother to look after it.

The pair had clashed over Jarvis wanting to drive it. He took it on March 22 this year and his stepbrother went looking for him.

After finding him in Toronto Road in Gillingham he tried to grab the keys, but was unable to do so. He then reported the theft to the police.

"This happened in the vicinity of a primary school at a time when children were being collected...." - Recorder John Gallagher

Prosecutor James Ross said officers spoke to Jarvis but he drove off. A chase followed with the BMW being driven on the wrong side of the road.

The collision happened in just after 3pm when children were being collected from Woodlands Primary School in Gillingham.

Mr Turner told in a statement how he had just dropped off his son and then saw the BMW coming towards him. He felt a bang and his car was shunted backwards.

Jarvis then opened his car door and asked if he was alright. He was detained in Medway Hospital for three nights.

After his arrest, Jarvis admitted he had drunk two bottles of cider earlier and taken cocaine.

The 40-year-old father, of Cowbeck Close, Rainham, admitted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and having no licence and insurance.

He was banned from driving for three years and will have to take an extended test before he will be allowed back on the road.

Sarah Fairbairn, defending, said Jarvis, who appeared in the dock on crutches, was going through a turbulent time having lost his right leg in an accident involving a forklift truck driven by his father.

He became addicted to painkillers and then turned to alcohol. Miss Fairbairn submitted a suspended sentence could be imposed.

Recorder John Gallagher told Jarvis, who has previous convictions for drink-driving: “This happened in the vicinity of a primary school at a time when children were being collected. It is abundantly clear you are a person who doesn’t take opportunities given to you.”

“An immediate custodial sentence is demanded in a case such as this. I regret to say if I imposed a suspended sentence I would be wholly failing in my duty.”