A driver who used his car as a weapon when he deliberately drove at three men - leaving one victim with life-changing leg injuries - has been jailed 10 years.

Darren Blackmore, 44, drove his Peugeot 307 car at the men in Vicarage Road car park, in North Walsham, and 30 year-old victim Matthew Knowles, was struck so hard he was tossed into the air, and left with a broken pelvis, serious multiple leg fractures and a shattered kneecap, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Lee Knights and Ashley Robinson, who were with Mr Knowles, managed to escape injury.

MORE: Woman cleared of encouraging Darren Blackmore to mow down three men in North Walsham hit-and-runStephen Mather, prosecuting, played CCTV footage of the incident in court and read an impact statement from Mr Knowles, revealing how it had devastated his life.

Mr Knowles, who is self-employed working in the family business, said his leg injuries were so bad he feared at first whether he would walk again and was in a lot of pain.

He said doctors initially told him it might be a year before he could walk again and even then thought he would need a frame.

As a self-employed worker, he said his business suffered because of his injuries and estimates it has cost him more than £50,000 in earnings.

Although Mr Knowles, who has a young daughter, has made good progress, he still cannot play sport and is limited in things he can now do, such as walking his dog.

He has also been warned he could face further surgery and need a knee replacement and worries that when he is older he could be in a wheelchair.

Mr Mather said when Blackmore was arrested he told police he had 'panicked' after the incident and had disposed of the car, which was found weeks later burnt out in Ringland Hills.

Mr Mather said Blackmore had not known the men he mowed down but said they had just happened to be 'in the wrong place'.

Blackmore, of Laburnham Close, Wymondham, admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent on July 23, last year.

The court heard that Blackmore had a long history of offending with matters of dishonesty, a firearms offence and driving matters.

Jailing him for 10 years, Judge Mark Dennis said he had used the car as a weapon and it was fortunate no one was killed.

He said it was an unprovoked attack on three 'blameless' men: 'They were defenceless and unable to defend themselves as you approached at some speed.'

He added: 'It would never have occurred to them that a motor car coming towards them was heading towards them. You were using a car as a weapon. It is pure chance that neither Mr Knowles or his two companions were not killed.'

He said the effects on Mr Knowles had been 'life changing' and he had been left in agony.

'There was a real fear that he would never walk again.'

He said that Mr Knowles had made some recovery but now had a permanent limp and numbness to one leg.

Matthew McNiff, for Blackmore, said: 'There can be no excuse for what he did.'

He said Blackmore wanted to offer his apology to Mr Knowles and even offered to meet him face to face if would help: 'He offers his apology for what it is worth to Mr Knowles.'

He said that while on remand, Blackmore had engaged in counselling and realised the devastation he had caused to Mr Knowles.

He said that Blackmore was now a very different person to the 'angry' man he was at the time of his arrest.

Mr McNiff said that Blackmore had the car towed away the next day and had not been responsible for it being burnt out.

After the case Det Insp Matt Dyson said: 'This was a shocking crime which has had a significant impact on the victim and could have had potentially fatal consequences.'

He said he hoped the sentencing provided some comfort to the victim.