A drive into the country to look for mushrooms ended up with a car crashing into a telegraph pole, injuring two passengers.

When police arrived in Bestmans Lane, Kempsey, near Worcester, they found the driver, 50-year-old Martin Dark, had disappeared.

Dark, of Bolston Road, Bath Road, Worcester, admitted careless driving, failing to stop and report an accident, having no insurance and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He was given a 12-month jail sentence, suspended for two years and ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and must be supervised by the probation service for two years.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting at Worcester Crown Court, said Dark, Kevin Bird and Robert Whiting had been drinking cider on November 8, 2009, when they decided to search for mushrooms. Dark was at the wheel and his companions said he had driven “like a crackpot” at 60mph.

Mr Whiting suffered concussion, a broken right wrist and four cracked ribs. Mr Bird is scarred for life.

James Dunstan, defending, said Dark instals gutters and fascias in houses and could not work if he was unable to drive.

He is also the sole carer for his elderly mother.

Judge Christopher Plunkett said Dark was making an effort to turn his life around.