A DRIVER whose friend was thrown from his car in a high-speed crash has been locked up.

James Redman lost control of his VW Golf at about 70mph on a country road.

Front-seat passenger Dominic Pointing, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle and suffered serious injuries.

Fellow passengers Carl Goodall and Abigail Horne were also injured in the crash in Winter Lane, West Hanney, on March 19, 2011.

Redman, who was 19 at the time, was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday having earlier admitted dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Hugh Williams said the group were heading to Wantage from the Lamb and Flag pub in Southmoor, where Redman had consumed one bottle of beer.

A police investigation revealed the 1.9-litre diesel Golf lost control at about 69mph before veering into the opposite lane, hitting a road sign and rolling several times.

Mr Williams said the passengers described Redman, of Cow Lane, Longworth, telling them “hold on because I like going round this corner quite fast” moments before the impact.

He said Mr Pointing suffered serious lacerations, fractured ribs, a fractured bone in his skull and teeth damage.

Phil Haworth, defending, said his client had “grown up very significantly” since the incident.

Recorder Sandeep Kainth called the crash a “loss of control of a vehicle at excessive speed” and sent Redman to a young offenders’ institute for 10 months.

He was also banned from driving for 18 months and cannot regain his licence until he completes an extended re test.