Daniel Peters was 'wasted' after several days of partying in the run up to the three-car collision on the A1065 near Barton Mills on the afternoon of December 30, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

During his journey from Norwich prior to the crash, Peters was seen drifting across the road on the A47 at Dereham, and he had then driven a further 35 miles before drifting out of his carriageway and colliding with a Ford Mondeo, said Joe Bird, prosecuting.

His Audi A4 had then collided head-on with a car containing a married couple which flipped onto its side.

Alison Allen and her husband were cut free from their car, and she was airlifted to hospital with life-changing injuries, said Mr Bird.

The court heard that Mrs Allen now used a walking stick and was having on-going treatment.

In addition to Mrs Allen being injured her husband and the driver of the Mondeo were also injured, said Mr Bird.

Following the crash Peters was found to have Benzoylecgonine – a cocaine residue – in excess of the prescribed limit in his blood as well as ketamine and traces of cannabis and ecstasy.

The court heard that Peters had a conviction in 2007 for being in charge of a motor vehicle with excess alcohol, followed by a conviction six weeks later for drink-driving.

Peters, 29, of Marston Moor, Norwich, admitted causing serious injury by driving an Audi A4 dangerously on the A47, A11 and A1065 and driving when the proportion of a controlled drug exceeded the prescribed limit.

He was jailed for 28 months and banned from driving for 50 months.

Steven Dyble, for Peters, described his client as being 'wasted' from five days of partying from Christmas Eve until two days before the crash.

He said Peters suffered from depression and had been self-medicating.

'The guilt he feels as a result of what happened has had a drastic effect on him,' said Mr Dyble.

He said the crash had been a 'wake-up call' and Peters no longer used drugs.

Mr Dyble added Peters had lost the chance of a job in Australia as a result of what had happened.