A speeding driver crashed into a car while being pursued by police and left three women with life-changing injuries.

Joshua Clelford was at the wheel of a Vauxhall Astra when he ploughed into a Toyota Aygo on Shottendane Road in Garlinge near Margate just after 9.30am on May 24.

The 24-year-old, who did not have a licence and was uninsured, drove at speed and jumped a red light before ignoring a Give Way sign and smashing into the Aygo, driven by Susan Hughes.

She and her two passengers Jenny Steadman and Linda Sweetlove suffered multiple injuries between them, including fractures to ribs, wrist, spine vertebrae, collarbone, breastbone, elbow and thighbone.

Two of the women had to be airlifted to London's King's College Hospital, with one remaining in intensive care for two weeks.

Canterbury Crown Court heard on Thursday that Clelford had been chased for as long as seven minutes by officers.

Police had wanted to speak to him about an earlier incident on May 5 when he had deliberately driven his car at his ex-girlfriend's partner.

On that occasion he was behind the wheel of a Seat Ibiza when he mounted a pavement in College Road, Margate, and then rammed the rear of Max Hines's car, causing it to spin in the road.

Mr Hines got out, shouting at Clelford to do the same, only to see the Ibiza, which was bearing false plates, being driven at him.

Prosecutor Geoff Gelbart told the court how the victim sought sanctuary to avoid being hit.

"The only thing that saved Mr Hines was that he was able to stand between two parked cars, with there being insufficient room for the defendant to get at him," he explained.

"But he rammed the car towards Mr Hines twice."

The force of Clelford striking the parked vehicles was so hard that it caused the rear of his car to lift from the road.

He eventually fled the scene, and then led police on a chase when they tried to apprehend him 19 days later.

The court heard Mrs Hughes and her companions, all described as retired, were heading to Ramsgate to enjoy a walk and lunch together.

At the time of the crash, Mrs Steadman was the front passenger and Mrs Sweetlove was in the back.

Mrs Hughes later told police she heard a very loud bang and saw the windscreen smash. Having blacked out momentarily she came round to see the driver of the Astra fleeing on foot.

"She told police she remembered thinking as he ran away 'Why would he do this?'," said Mr Gelbart.

The court heard that Clelford was chased by officers and arrested.

Mrs Hughes's injuries included a broken wrist, cracked ribs, spine fractures and a fractured left femur. She now has a metal rod running from her hip to her knee, fixed in place with eight screws.

She spoke in a victim impact statement of how her life and independence had been "greatly affected" and that her home required modifications.

Mrs Steadman sustained a fractured elbow and multiple bruising. The court was told her once active social life was reduced to "nil" after the collision and she was even left having to rely on her husband to cut up her dinner.

"In short, this was an incident that has changed her life significantly and she worries about her mental and physical feelings," added the prosecutor.

“You hope to rebuild your life on your release from custody. For your victims there may be no such opportunity…”

Mrs Sweetlove was knocked unconscious in the crash and, once at hospital, found to have suffered bleeding on her brain as well as fractures to her breastbone, collarbone, lower back and as many as nine ribs.

The court heard that when she regained consciousness she in fact feared she had sustained fatal injuries.

Clelford, a building labourer of Argyle Avenue, Margate, was interviewed by police and claimed not to remember where he was on May 5.

However, when shown a camera recording of the incident involving Mr Hines, he admitted to recognising his ex-girlfriend in the video.

"It transpired she had been his partner two years earlier and that seemed to be what was underlying his actions," explained Mr Gelbart.

Of the chase on May 24, the dad-of-one said the officers identified themselves as police but he thought he would "try his luck" and so drove off.

In his victim impact statement, Mr Hines described being left anxious, with deepening depression and "constantly looking over his shoulder".

Clelford later admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Hines, causing serious injury by dangerous driving to Mrs Hughes, Mrs Steadman and Mrs Sweetlove, and driving without a licence and without insurance.

The court heard his record of offending includes two previous convictions for driving while disqualified and without insurance.

James Burke, defending, said Clelford accepted he had caused serious injury to the three women, was remorseful, and "realistic" that he faced time behind bars.

Of the incident involving his ex-partner's boyfriend, the lawyer explained there had been an issue concerning Clelford's child and, prior to ramming Mr Hines, there had been "dialogue" between the two men.

But Mr Burke said that although "the red mist came down in the heat of the moment", there had not been any plan to hurt him in any way.

Describing Clelford's time on remand as having been "a salutary lesson", he told the court: "He wants to make a fresh start when he comes out of prison and is seeking to do whatever he can to put himself in the best position to do that.

"He is focused on rebuilding his life."

On jailing Clelford for a total of six years and imposing a five-year driving ban with an extended test requirement, Recorder Geraint Jones KC told him he had deliberately used his car as a weapon in "horrifying and appalling" conduct towards Mr Hines.

But he said his actions three weeks later had ended "far more seriously", leaving his victims with life-changing injuries.

Referring to the impact on Mrs Hughes, the judge said: "She was someone who was hitherto active and enjoying her retirement and you, by your driving, have snatched away a large degree of that."

Cataloguing the extent of Mrs Sweetlove's fractures, Recorder Jones added: "She also had to go to hospital by helicopter and when she came to she believed she had suffered fatal injuries.

"She too has suffered what can properly be described as life-changing injuries."

The judge also remarked on Clelford's diagnosis of ADHD but said it was "no explanation, let alone an excuse" for his conduct.

On his plans for the future, Recorder Jones concluded: "Mr Burke has said you hope to rebuild your life on your release from custody.

"For your victims there may be no such opportunity, and I hope you reflect upon that fact."

Mrs Hughes, who still relies on crutches, and Mrs Steadman attended the sentencing hearing and, speaking afterwards, said Mrs Sweetlove was still recovering.

When Mrs Steadman was asked what she thought about Clelford's punishment, her husband, who had accompanied the women to court, simply replied: "Is any sentence long enough?"