A MOTORIST was left with 'left-changing' injuries after being hit head-on by a martial arts expert who fought under the nickname 'The Wrecking Machine'.

A court heard how the victim was driving home from work when he was hit by an oncoming vehicle driven by Karl Etherington.

The pair were involved in a head-on collision that sent the victim's car spinning after Etherington failed to properly negotiate a bend, South Cumbria Magistrates' Court in Barrow was told.

Blackpool man Etherington, who the court heard owned a building business, previously competed in mixed martial arts with the nickname.

He admitted causing serious injury by driving carelessly when he appeared before the judge.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre described the incident, which happened at around 10.30pm on July 15 last year on the A592 near Bowness's Storrs Hall.

He said Etherington was travelling in a Land Rover at around 45 mph in a 40mph section of the road - past markings that told drivers to slow down and indicated a left turn.

Coming round the bend, he collided head-on with 'significant force', causing the other vehicle to spin.

The victim, 22, was taken to Preston hospital after he suffered multiple injuries including a broken pelvis and a broken jaw.

The court heard a severed optic eye also left him blind in one eye.

Mr Dacre said Etherington, of Blackpool Road in Lytham St Annes, had eight previous convictions, including for drink driving.

In mitigation, the court was told the defendant had shown remorse since the incident and been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by a doctor.

The court heard he had drunk alcohol and decided to drive when a gathering with friends finished early.

A cocaine breakdown product was found in his blood following a test but District Judge John Temperley was told Etherington had not taken the substance on the day and was not aware it was still in his system. 

Judge Temperley spared Etherington, 48, immediate prison time and sentenced him to 26 weeks behind bars, suspended for two years.

He told the defendant: "You need to be aware, if you are not already, how serious this was and you must learn something from this incident."