A drunk driver who was nearly three times over the limit was involved in two car accidents within minutes of each other in Ramsgate.

And when he tried to flee from the second crash he deliberately drove into a driver and her husband in a bid to escape.

He left one elderly victim nursing three fractures - but still tried to drive away.

Now Tomasz Frankiewicz, 24, has been jailed for two years and banned from driving for five years after admitting causing serious injury, drink driving and failing to stop or report the accident.

The court heard how he and two pals had quaffed four bottles of vodka before getting into the car.

Prosecutor Simon Taylor told Canterbury Crown Court how on April 3 a VW Polo was involved in two separate accidents.

In the first Frankiewicz was a passenger and in the second, he was at the wheel.

The first crash happened when the car was travelling at speed along Newington Road in Ramsgate and struck a Vauxhall Corsa.

Mr Taylor said: “A few minutes later, in Margate Road, the same vehicle was involved in an accident at a junction with Pysons Road.

“This time the VW collided with the rear of a Peugeot driven by Kathleen O’Connor. She got out to exchange details.

“Her elderly husband, James, also got out and both realised that the VW driver and passenger were drunk. Both men then got back into their car and tried to drive away.”

The prosecutor said that the brave Mrs O’Connor stood in front of the VW to prevent it leaving, and Frankiewicz drove straight at her and struck her.

Mr O’Connor was standing behind the VW, which then reversed knocking him to the ground and breaking his arm, cheekbone and nose.

Mr Taylor added that even then, welder Frankiewicz tried to flee but was prevented when passers-by went to the aid of the stricken husband and wife.

Frankiewicz, who lives in Telford, was later arrested and found to be three times over the drink-drive limit.

Mr O’Connor was rushed to the QEQM Hospital by ambulance, where doctors treated him for his fractured arm, fractured cheekbone, a broken nose, two black eyes and injuries to his knees.

He spent two days in hospital before being readmitted with pneumonia “caused as a result of his injuries”, added Mr Taylor.

Mrs O’Connor needed treatment for neck and back injuries and bruising.

Judge Heather Norton said she was restricted by sentencing guidelines, adding: “That, frankly, is not long enough, but that’s the law.”