A DANGEROUS driver who left two women seriously injured after crashing a stolen car during a high-speed police chase has been jailed.

Nathan Lee Elsworth, 22, of Branch Street, Stacksteads, appeared before Judge Jonathan Gibson at Barrow-in-Furness where he was jailed for three years.

Elsworth was due to be sentenced at Burnley Crown Court last month on two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, unlawful taking of a convertible Mercedes CLK, failing to stop after an accident, dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

But when the case was adjourned to obtain the medical records of one of his victims Elsworth ripped off his shirt and began threatening dock officers.

The court heard the charges related to a crash in Stacksteads on July 1 where two female passengers, Jemma Tatton, 26, and Gemma Dyson, 34, suffered life-changing injuries after being left trapped in the Mercedes.

The vehicle hit a stone-built property with its passenger side and it took firefighters more than an hour to cut the passengers free.

The court heard police had given chase after seeing Elsworth driving the Mercedes car, which had been reported stolen, in Whitworth Road, Stacksteads.

Officers said the car had been driving in the direction of New Line, Bacup when the crash happened.

There was a 10 minute pursuit before the Mercedes crashed into the wall of a house in Plantation Street.

At the time of the crash officers referred the incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The court heard Elsworth fled ran off from the scene, leaving the two women trapped in the vehicle. He was later arrested at the home of a family member.

Prosecutors at an earlier hearing said Ms Tatton suffered a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, a fractured pelvis, her left leg was broken in two places and she had fractured vertebrae.

Ms Dyson, who is the defendant’s former girlfriend, suffered a fracture to a bone in her neck and two broken ribs. Her left foot was broken and the skin stripped off it.

Judge Gibson banned Elsworth from driving for four and a half years and told to take an extended re-test.

He must also pay a £170 surcharge to the victim's services fund.