A SERIAL offender who seriously injured two people when he crashed a car at speed in Poole earlier this year has been sentenced to 39 months behind bars.

Sam Bennett, aged 33, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday, after pleading guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and one of driving while disqualified.

The court heard that on January 30, around 9.15pm, Bennett, whose address was given as Kensington Road, Weston-Super-Mare, was behind the wheel of a Ford Focus with passenger, Chad Smedburg, when he smashed into a BMW driven by Lauren Smith on Ringwood Road, Poole.

Mr Smedburg suffered a bleed on his brain, pelvic injuries, a broken jaw and fractured eye socket.

He was airlifted to hospital and required surgery, but has since made a full recovery.

Miss Smith, who attended court to read her witness impact statement, was left with serious facial injures following the impact, including the loss of her front teeth.

She now has four false teeth, has to wear dentures and still requires dental treatment in excess of £5,000, the court heard.

Bennett has 22 previous convictions for 43 offences, dating back to 2003. Nine of his convictions are driving related, including five drink drive bans.

Prosecuting, Robert Griffiths, said that one witness recalled Bennett had been driving "very, very dangerously" and that he had overtaken multiple cars, swerving around the road at speed and with a flat tyre.

Another witness said the Ford Focus was making the sound a banger racing car does when "the driver has his foot down."

Miss Smith, aged 26, told the court: "As a result of the collision I lost my front teeth.

"This has had a huge impact on my life. I have been in a lot of pain and have lost all my confidence, I feel unattractive towards my boyfriend and am very conscious about how I look.

"I no longer eat out in public as I am embarrassed at taking my teeth out and feel that everyone is looking at me."

She added: "The crash that night had a huge effect on my life, I am trying to move on with my life but have constant reminders with the pain I suffer, the flashbacks, having to wear false teeth and the constant fear that I will be involved in another collision."

Mitigating, Robert Grey said his client had a long history of addiction, in particular alcohol, and had made recent efforts to turn his life around.

Mr Grey said Bennett was also remorseful.

With the permission of sentencing Recorder Barry McElduff, Bennett was allowed to speak from the dock.

He made a tearful apology to Miss Smith, saying: "From my heart I apologise."

Recorder McElduff, sentencing Bennett to 39 months and one week, told him: "Your actions have had a serious and lifelong impact on this (Miss Smith) young lady."

Bennett was also banned from driving for four years, six months and two weeks.