A drink driver who caused a crash which ripped an engine out of a car and left two passengers seriously injured has been handed a driving ban.

David Pritchard, a 35-year-old tyre fitter from Llandrindod Wells, had drunk pints of alcohol before getting behind the wheel of his Audi A3 and then crashing into a house and hair salon along the A470 in Carno at around 4.45am on Sunday, September 10.

A large emergency service response was deployed which closed one of the busiest routes through Mid Wales for more than 12 hours while two back seat passengers were rescued and taken to hospital.

Only one vehicle was involved in the crash which CCTV captured the moment the Audi collided with the side of the building mid collision, with the engine being ejected and catching fire.

County Times: The scene of the crash which involved a car's engine becoming detached.

A blood test found that Pritchard had 95 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres, which was over the 80mg limit, Welshpool Magistrates' Court was told on Tuesday, March 26.

Prosecutor Helen Tench said Pritchard was in a "state of panic and shock" and admitted to police that he had been drinking pints which "definitely messed up his judgement".

Robert Hanratty, acting on behalf of Pritchard, told the magistrates: "He was very honest. More honest than most with police. He is devastated by the incident.

"He has no previous convictions. He has only started this employment [as a tyre fitter] and hopes to maintain it."

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Pritchard, of Pentrosfa Crescent, Llandrindod Wells, was given a 14-month driving disqualification but was offered to complete a course to reduce the ban by 14 weeks.

He was also ordered to pay a £400 fine, £160 victim surcharge and £85 prosecution costs.

Rebecca Klug, chair, said: "This was a very serious accident, but it was good to hear how well you cooperated at the scene and afterwards.

"However, we do have to ban you for 14 months and that takes into account the seriousness of the incident."