HORROR CRASH
Shocking moment newly qualified driver, 17, smashes head first into Jaguar while ‘showing off’ to female passenger
Watch the high speed collision in our video player
THIS is the shocking moment a newly qualified teen driver smashes head first into a Jaguar after "showing off" to a female friend.
Footage shows the dangerous collision with the reckless 17-year-old later being blasted by a judge for his "utterly ridiculous" driving.
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Gareth Jones was behind the wheel of a white Dacia alongside a female passenger when he ploughed into an oncoming Jaguar.
Video of the scary crash shows the Dacia speeding around a corner and crossing into the opposite lane where the red Jag was approaching.
Jones had been doing 49mph as he took the bend and veered across the road - losing all control of the motor.
Moments later the cars collided with a "heavy impact" and left all three people involved seriously injured.
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A court heard the Jaguar driver tried to swerve to avoid the crash but was ultimately forced to take the impact.
Jones - who had only passed his test three months prior - apologised to the other driver and admitted he was going too fast.
The crash took place near Newcastle Emlyn in West Wales on the afternoon of May 30 last year.
Jones, now 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
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Judge Paul Thomas KC told him that he had been "showing off" behind the wheel - with a female passenger next to him.
He later described the defendant's driving as "stupid in the extreme" and "utterly ridiculous".
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Prosecutors said the Jaguar driver declined medical treatment at first from paramedics but later took himself to hospital.
He complained of whiplash injuries to his back and neck and tenderness to his rib cage.
It was later discovered that he had a bleed on the brain following a scan.
Pictures of the Jaguar show its bonnet had been smashed up in the crash as it sat on the side of the road.
The teen driver was also left severely injured in the collision and spent 17 days in hospital where he had open bowel surgery.
Jones' female passenger suffered a laceration to her liver, contusion on the lung and a fractured vertebrae in her lower back.
She had to wear a back-brace for three months.
The injured passenger told cops Jones had picked her up from Carmathen earlier in the day.
She said she was vocally concerned by the way Jones was driving and said it felt out of character.
The woman told the court she had asked him to turn around and take her back to Carmarthen prior to the collision.
Both victims also suffered mental and emotional issues as a result of the impact.
Jones' passenger said in a statement the crash had been "overwhelming" and the recovery process was "challenging".
She also said she struggled to sleep and suffered with nightmares for some time afterwards.
It also knocked her self-confidence and forced her to give up her studies at college.
The Jaguar driver said he has felt anxious and vulnerable whenever he goes on the road now.
This led to "brain fog and confusion", as well as headaches that "have become the norm".
The man said his job had been made harder by the injuries he suffered as had his social activities such as snooker.
ESCAPING JAIL TIME
Jones' barrister, Ian Ibrahim, said the defendant accepted his speed was "excessive for the vehicle, excessive for the corner, and excessive for his level of experience".
Adding his client "knows the devastation he has caused".
Judge Thomas explained he could have handed the 19-year-old a three year prison sentence for his actions.
But due to his age at the time he was obliged to reduce it down.
Due to Jones' admission of guilt through his plea it was again reduced down to 18 months.
A sentence less than two years again allows a judge to consider the imposition guidelines.
Thomas confirmed he had no fears that Jones may be a potential future re-offender and that he could see the teen had learnt a valuable lesson.
As a result, the sentence was suspended.
The judge told the defendant: "The only thing that saves you from immediate custody is your age."
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Alongside the 18-month suspended sentence Jones was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and do 250 hours of unpaid community work.
He was also disqualified from driving for three years.
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