A drug driver has appeared in court after almost crashing head on into a vehicle which left a 79-year-old woman in intensive care.

Welshpool Magistrates' Court heard that David Painter had cocaine in his system when he drove into the wrong side of road in Knighton on November 2, 2021.

Patricia Kerrigan, who was travelling in the oncoming car, suffered injuries that were so severe that she wasn't expected to survive.

Painter, of Clunbury Hall, Shropshire pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drug driving when he appeared in court on Tuesday.

The court heard that Painter "moved almost fully" into oncoming traffic in his Peugeot Boxer van while driving along the A4113 in Knighton. He was found to have been at least sixteen times over the drug limit when he had more than 800 microgrammes of Benzoylecgonine per litre of blood. The prescribed limit for Benzoylecgonine - 50mgs - is approximately 400,000 times lower than the drink driving limit.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court: "Significant injury was caused to a 79-year-old woman who spent seven days in intensive care.

"The doctor clapped her out when she left hospital because the injuries were so severe she wasn’t expected to survive."

Jamie Wade, acting for the 43-year-old, said: "He was very apologetic and extremely remorseful. He made a full and frank admission at the police station."

Magistrates agreed that Painter should be sentenced at Mold Crown Court. The next hearing will take place on May 31.