A man who caused horrific injuries when he drove his father's BMW into a moped rider was jailed for 13 years.

John Boyle-Matcham, 23, steered the car into Jamie Clarke and sent him flying through the air.

The victim was so badly hurt that a witness in North Approach, Watford thought his legs had been severed, St Albans crown court heard.

Jamie Clarke, now 21, was taken by helicopter to St George's hospital in Tooting where he was an inpatient for two months. He had multiple bouts of surgery and spent two weeks of intensive care where he was treated for brain seizures and fractures.

He walks with a crutch and has limited movement to his right forearm and ankle and is awaiting a final prognosis.

Prosecutor Sean Sullivan said he was lucky not to have been killed or paralysed.

In the witness box, Jamie Clarke told the jury there had been "bad feeling" over a former girlfriend between him and Boyle-Matcham that dated back many years.

Mr Clarke said that on the morning of Bank Holiday Monday August 28th last year he was riding his scooter when he saw John Boyle-Matcham on a push bike on St Albans Road, Watford.

He said the defendant was quite angry and was waving his arms about. As he was wearing a helmet, he could not hear what Boyle-Matcham was saying.

Later John Boyle-Matcham was tipped off that Jamie Clarke was at some local shops. Just before 6pm that night he drove the BMW into Mr Clarke's silver and grey Gilera Runner 125 scooter in North Approach Road.

A witness said: "It looked like his legs had been severed. His trousers looked like they had been pulled down. A leg or both legs were not in a good position."

Boyle-Matcham drove off and abandoned the car. At 8.11pm he dialled 999 and told the police that the bike had pulled out at him and he had panicked.

John Boyle-Matcham, 23, of St Albans Road, Watford, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent by a majority of 10 to 2. He had pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of causing grievous bodily harm. He also admitted failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

He had a conviction from May 2016 for driving without due care and attention and failing to report an accident. As a juvenile he received police warnings for theft and having an offensive weapon.

In the witness box Mr Clarke said he recognised John Boyle-Matcham's car as it came towards him. He said: "All of a sudden it swerved into my lane and came towards me. There was not much I could do.

"It came towards me. It hit me. It was all a blur from there."

Boyle-Matcham told the jury: "I wanted to scare him. It was a split second foolish thing to do, maybe with the intent to make him fall off at worst or slam his brakes on, but I never intended to hit him.”

He said: "I just feel so sorry for Jamie for what I have put him through, for what I have put his family through, for what I have put my family through.

“It’s probably the worst mistake I have ever made in my life and I’m just sorry.”

Defending, Christopher Gillespie said: "Boyle-Matcham realised instantly what he had done was terrible and wrong. It was an isolated albeit extremely, serious incident."

He said he had a good work record in the motor industry and comes from a decent hardworking family who have stood by him

Judge Marie Catterson told Boyle-Matcham there was no rational explanation for what he did.

She said: "Mr Clarke has suffered very serious injuries , had to endure prolonged and ongoing treatment, and has suffered significant scarring and disfigurement. He had a passion for mopeds and has now unsurprisingly lost interest. "

The judge also banned him from driving for nine and a half years and made a 10-year restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Clarke, directly or indirectly, or knowing being within 50 yards of him.

In a victim personal statement Jamie Clarke said he used to be passionate about moped and now worried he had developed a fear of them.

He said: "Since this happened I have not walked or functioned as a normal person.

"I feel lucky to be alive. It can only be down to excellent treatment from paramedics at the scenes and doctors and nurses at the hospital."