A teenager from Stevenage has been jailed for more than two years after seriously injuring six people in a crash in Hitchin.

Jack Clark, from Blackdown Close, pleaded guilty to four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and was sentenced to two years and three months behind bars after appearing at St Albans Crown Court last Thursday.

He has also been disqualified from driving for four years.

The 19-year-old was driving a silver Ford Fiesta with six other people in the vehicle when he crashed on Park Street at 11.36pm on December 3, 2021.

He had only had the vehicle for 17 days and passed his test less than a month prior.

The court heard Clark was driving "erratically", swerving in and out of lanes and driving at speed, when he lost control and mounted a kerb, causing his vehicle to spin and collide with a house.

The ambulance service responded and declared a major incident, with all the occupants of the car suffering serious injuries.

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One of the passengers was placed in an induced coma after suffering life-changing injuries including organ damage, bleeds to the brain and a collapsed lung.

Clark was arrested at the scene and charged following an extensive investigation.

"Clark had only passed his driving test 24 days prior to the collision, and had only had the car for 17 days," said Sergeant Tom Pearson, who led the investigation.

"His driving was reckless, dangerous and has evidently had serious consequences for all involved.

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"Speeding and driving dangerously is not impressive – especially when you risk serious and devastating consequences as evidenced in this case. Just prior to the collision, his passengers repeatedly pleaded with him to slow down and were understandably scared of the manner in which he was driving the car.

"All of the occupants of the vehicle were seriously injured, with some of them sustaining life changing injuries that will impact them forever – I hope Clark is aware, that as result of his reckless use of the road, he was fortunate that his actions did not leave a family grieving for their loved one.

"Please think twice about getting into a car with someone if you have any reservations at all about their manner of driving; it’s not worth the risks."