This is the moment a drug dealer tried to escape police by driving the wrong way down a dual carriageway - but crashed into another car and left a mother with life-threatening injuries.

Levi Jermyn, 26, still hadn't passed his test when he got behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf with friend Amy Pyart as a passenger.

A court heard Jermyn was being chased by police before he drove into the path of a BMW X5 SUV in a head-on smash.

Miss Pyart was left with life-threatening injuries including serious wounds to her head, a bleed on the brain, a punctured lung and fractured ribs.

Prosecutor Gareth James said the crash took place on the busy A4042 between Cwmbran and Pontypool, South Wales, in September last year.

Mr James said: 'The defendant showed a flagrant disregard for the rules of the road.

'These were particularly grave injuries caused, he has never passed his test and this is his third dangerous driving conviction.'

Cardiff Crown Court heard street dealer Jermyn was trying to escape because he was carrying 17 wraps of cocaine worth up to £700.

He suffered a bleed on the brain as well as a fractured jaw and kneecap and the loss of seven teeth.

The court heard the driver of the BMW X5 'mercifully' emerged uninjured but was 'shaken and bewildered.'

Jermyn, of Newport, admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving, possession of cocaine with intent to supply and driving while disqualified.

He also admitted failing to provide a specimen, failing to stop and driving with no insurance.

The court heard Jermyn was jailed for a similar offence in 2020 when he performed a U-turn on the M4 motorway before he later crashing head-on into a police car.

Defending Jeffrey Jones said: 'The defendant still has nightmares about what happened. He is upset and ashamed at what he's done.'

The court heard passenger Miss Pyart chose not to cooperate with prosecutors and declined to make a victim impact statement.

Judge Shomon Khan said: 'It was inevitable there was going to be a serious collision.

'There were plenty of cars on the road having to slow down, brake, move over and change lanes.

'The last thing they would have been expecting would have been your vehicle travelling on a fast moving, busy road in the wrong direction.

'It's very difficult to think of a more dangerous act.'

Jermyn was jailed for five years and banned from driving for seven years and two months.