A driver who ploughed his 4x4 vehicle into two teenagers sitting on a gate has been jailed.

Karl Probbitts, 17, has had to give up his dream of joining the army while friend Max White, 17, can no longer become a mechanic following the unprovoked attack in August last year.

The pair were sitting on the metal emergency exit gate at a social club car park when John Collicutt, 59, drove straight into them.

The main way out of the club car park had been blocked by two vehicles, so Collicutt – in a blind rage – drove at the emergency exit gate on which the teens were sitting to get out of the parking area.

Karl, from Woodstock, was dragged under the Mitsubishi Shogun and only dislodged when it crashed into a bollard.

He lost 80 per cent of the vision in his right eye, broke his collarbone and injured his knee.

Max, from Middle Barton, suffered a fractured vertebra and is still taking morphine to combat the constant pain.

Both teenagers have been left with “significant” psychological problems following the attack outside Middle Barton Social Club on August 28.

HGV driver Collicutt, of Marshall Crescent, Middle Barton, was jailed for 32 months at Oxford Crown Court after pleading guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving, criminal damage and failure to stop after an accident.

Trudi Yeatman, prosecuting, said: “Collicutt drove straight through the gate and, as he did, Max was struck by the vehicle and Karl was run over and dragged underneath.”

The court was told witnesses said they heard Karl screaming and saw people running alongside the vehicle and banging on the window to alert Collicutt.

Ms Yeatman added: “When asked if he thought his actions were responsible, Collicutt just said he had the a*** and lost it.”

The 4x4 was later found abandoned in nearby woods.

Collicutt, who had not been drinking, handed himself in to Witney Police Station eight hours after the attack.

Paul Sharkey, defending, said: “Anything I put forward is not by way of mitigation or excuse, but just an explanation.

“My client has had problems with youths in the village before, although there is no suggestion that these young men were acting improperly.

“He drove towards the gates and hoped and expected they would move, but stupidly didn’t give them enough time.”

Mr Sharkey added: “The red mist descended.”

Mr Recorder Nigel Daly sentenced Collicutt to 32 months for each count of GBH, 12 months for dangerous driving and one month for criminal damage, all to run concurrently.

There was no further penalty for his failure to stop, but he was banned from driving for two years.

Mr Recorder Daly told Collicutt: “Your driving was appalling, which is compounded by the fact you used the vehicle as a weapon and caused severe injury to these young men.

“They were doing nothing wrong whatsoever.”

Speaking after the sentencing, Max said he was disappointed by the length of the jail term.

He said: “It’s just not long enough. This man robbed us of our futures.”

Karl, dubbed ‘Combat’ by his friends because of his desire to join the army, added: “Going into the army is all I have ever wanted to do and he has taken this away from me.“

Max’s father, Richard White, said: “All that matters now is that they both make a full recovery.”