An Ipswich man was banned from driving when he ploughed a BMW into a tree – leaving his wife with possible life-long injuries.

Dimitar Mitev admitted dangerous driving, two counts of driving while disqualified and two counts of driving without insurance at magistrates’ court in Ipswich on Thursday.

Last year, he was banned for six months for accruing more than 12 penalty points on his licence.

In January, the 30-year-old was banned for another six months for driving while disqualified and without insurance.

On April 6, he was stopped for driving a Ford Galaxy without a licence or insurance near his home – of two years, since moving from Bulgaria – in Dickens Road.

The car wash attendant was still under investigation when he drove a newly bought BMW 330i at speed along Yarmouth Road just after 11.20pm last Sunday night.

Prosecutor Colette Harper said witnesses saw the car travel towards London Road at 80-90mph, before losing control and drifting into the other lane, colliding with a traffic island and a tree, before flipping over and coming to a stop on its side against another tree.

Onlookers tried to free Mitev’s wife from the wreckage before emergency services arrived.

“The defendant was in the rear of the vehicle and did not want to leave because he was concerned for his wife,” said Mrs Harper.

“He then confirmed he was the driver and gave a positive roadside breath test. Police are awaiting the results of a blood sample taken at hospital.”

Mitev’s wife – and mother of his two children – was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with a subdural haematoma and a broken wrist, leg and pelvis.

Mrs Harper said Mitev showed “no regard for the law” by driving an unfamiliar, powerful vehicle after consuming alcohol.

Solicitor Mark Holt said Mitev had been over the alcohol limit by four microgrammes and may not face prosecution if the blood sample returned a lower reading.

“There is no evidence to suggest he was unduly influenced by alcohol,” he added.

“The speed attributed is also highly speculative.”

Mr Holt asked magistrates to grant Mitev bail before sentencing at crown court – to stay at his home address, surrender his passport and report to police daily.

But they declined, remanding him in custody until sentencing.

“This was a flagrant disregard for the law,” they told him.