A DRIVER whose girlfriend was trapped in his blazing car after it overturned on a Worcester road was rugby-tackled by a bystander who thought he would flee.

Nicola Beresford was left in the Rover in Malvern Road, St John's, after mechanic Dean Hooper crashed while more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Hooper admitted drink-driving, careless driving, and failing to stop after an accident. Yesterday, he was banned from driving for two years by Worcester magistrates.

The 22-year-old's blue Rover 214 clipped the nearside kerb, crashed into a boundary pillar and bounced on to the opposite side of the road, before turning upside down.

Nurse Susan Amos ran from her home with other residents to tackle the flames, before firefighters freed Miss Beresford, 22.

She was taken to Ronkswood Hospital with a broken left arm, chest injuries and cuts to her face. She has made a full recovery.

Hooper, who escaped with cuts and bruises, was found in a nearby garden and arrested.

A breath test revealed that 86mcg of alcohol was in his body - the legal limit is 35mcg.

Stuart Mason-Parker, prosecuting, claimed Hooper, of Kirkstone Drive, Warndon, Worcester, had fled the scene after the smash at 9.50pm on Sunday, October 22.

But Barry Newton, defending, said his client was found just yards away, disorientated and in shock.

Mrs Amos, who first tried to help Miss Beresford, said in a statement that Hooper was agitated and "said something like 'I need to get away from here'," before he was rugby-tackled by another resident.

"At that particular time, Mr Hooper was affected not only by his injuries but also by the shock and when we say he didn't stop after the accident, he didn't drive away into the night," said Mr Newton.

He said Miss Beresford described her boyfriend as a safe driver and had not borne him any grudge for what happened as they remained "as one".

Hooper was also fined £490 for the offences, with £118 costs.

After the case, Sybil Norman, whose boundary wall pillar was sent flying in the crash, praised Mrs Amos and those who went to the rescue.

"That young lady's very lucky to be alive," she said.

"If they hadn't done what they did, it makes you wonder what might've happened."