A father-of-three seriously injured another motorist after overtaking on the brow of a hill near East Morton, a court heard.

Rodney Weston, 61, suffered a punctured kidney, fractured sternum, severe whiplash and multiple bruising when his van was hit head-on by Robert Belsten’s car.

Bradford Crown Court was told last Thursday that 35-year-old Belsten had tried to overtake two cars on a bend and struck Mr Weston’s Volkswagen Caddy.

Prosecutor Emma Downing said Mr Weston, a painter and decorator, was detained in hospital for five days and was still having physiotherapy.

Belsten, who pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was jailed for eight months.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years.

Judge Robert Bartfield told him: “It’s a great mercy that one or more people were not killed.”

The incident happened on January 5 this year as Belsten drove his Renault Megane in Otley Road towards East Morton.

Barrister David McGonigal, representing Belsten, of Grove Road in Heckmondwike, said his client, who was genuinely remorseful, had been “in great emotional turmoil and confusion” after his partner had told him she was involved in other relationships.