A driver has been jailed after he suffered a blackout and seriously injured two pedestrians.

After hitting Carl Sergeant and his partner Marcin Ryder, Rodney Bradbury’s car careered on for 106 metres before hitting a tree.

The Ford Fiesta continued for another 33 metres before coming to a halt in bushes, Maidstone Crown Court heard on Friday.

The accident happened on the A246 at Mount Ephraim in Tunbridge Wells on June 27 this year.

Prosecutor Iestyn Morgan said Bradbury, 59, suffered a blackout and struck a stationary Land Rover before swerving across the road and a grass verge into the common where the victims were walking on a footpath.

An off-duty police officer and a retired fireman who were playing cricket nearby went to give them medical assistance.

Mr Sergeant and Mr Ryder were taken to hospital after the air ambulance attended. Mr Sargeant was in an induced coma for 18 days. He suffered multiple fractures and a collapsed lung.

"Before he got into his car he should have realised the dangers he may pose to other road users and pedestrians" - DC Aaron Hammond

Mr Ryder was left with fractures to his foot and is having ongoing operations.

Bradbury, of Hill View Road, Tunbridge Wells, admitted two offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Jailing him for 18 months and banning him from driving for life, Judge Jeremy Carey said he was a man of impeccable character with no convictions and a clean licence.

“You are older than your 59 years,” he told Bradbury. “You have a complex medical condition. Prison will be hard for you because of your need for administering medication.

“I have taken all those matters into consideration. I must have regard to the aggravating feature that there was not one but two serious injuries in this case.

“I do not understate the impact of your offending so far as the victims are concerned.”

The judge said there was, as submitted by defence counsel, a stark choice between imposing a suspended sentence or immediate custody.

But he added that the offending had to be marked by immediate custody. Bradbury had acknowledged that he would never drive again.

Judge Carey was told there were “a huge amount of drugs” that would have to go to prison with Bradbury.

Detective Constable Aaron Hammond, of Kent Police’s serious collision investigation unit said: "Bradbury had suffered a medical episode just one hour before he was involved in this collision.

"Before he got into his car he should have realised the dangers he may pose to other road users and pedestrians.

"At all times, it is the responsibility of any motorist to ensure he or she is fit to drive before they get behind the wheel.

"This collision could easily have had fatal consequences, and although the victim who was seriously hurt is continuing to recover well, he still needs regular hospital treatment for his injuries."