A DRINK-driver's wife was badly injured when he crashed his car after leaving a pub, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Gary Dolloway, aged 35, of Perryfields Close, Redditch, drank up to eight pints of shandy in Bromsgrove and was advised by friends not to get behind the wheel.

But the night-shift worker ignored them, losing control of his vehicle in the town's Broad Street, said Michael Conry, prosecuting.

He smashed into a wall as the car spun, then struck two parked cars, shunting one nearly seven metres.

Dolloway's wife, Nicola, who was in the front passenger seat, was knocked unconscious with serious head injuries. She suffered a stroke, has limited use in her left arm and will take years to recover, said Mr Conry.

Dolloway pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving with excess alcohol.

Judge Michael Dudley said the only factor which saved Dolloway from a jail sentence was that he was now the principal carer for his wife.

He had adapted their home and his nursing help was already proving a success.

The judge gave Dolloway a two-year community rehabilitation order with a condition that he attend a drink-impaired drivers' programme.

He was also banned from the road for three years and ordered to take an extended re-test before he can drive again.

Dolloway had finished his shift early on January 16 last year before travelling to Bromsgrove. He left a pub at 10.25pm but careered out of control on a bend.

Mr Conry said police investigations showed he was speeding at not less than 42mph in a 30mph area.

The defendant left the crash and was found 30 yards away "to get his head round what had happened". His recollection of the accident was unclear.

A test showed a breath-alcohol reading of 69 compared with the legal limit of 35. In 1998 he was banned for three years, again for drink-driving.

Peter Haynes, defending, said: "To send him to prison would be a cruelty. He would lose his home and his wife would have to go into a care home."

The couple were £30,000 in debt but were making efforts to save their marriage.

Despite initial tensions, both his and her families were helping the stricken wife back to full recovery, added Mr Haynes.