A MAN banned from driving took his ex-wife's car without consent, crashed it and saw it go up in flames — leaving himself and his three passengers injured.

Joseph George Hughes, 33, of Church Street, Ventnor, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and injury caused by accident, driving without insurance, and while disqualified, in Godshill, during lockdown on April 26.

He appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Friday where he was given a suspended prison sentence.

Liz Miller, prosecuting, said Hughes had taken the keys to his ex-wife's Seat Ibiza, picked up three passengers, then crashed into a parked van.

Emergency services including police, fire and ambulance, attended the scene.

Hughes suffered a fractured clavicle and was taken to hospital. In the neighbouring hospital bed was one of his passengers, who had a fractured spine, pelvis and hip.

Another passenger had a fractured wrist and another received lacerations to her face.

Miss Miller told the court the aggravating factors were that he was driving within two months of a ban, with passengers, serious injuries were sustained and the vehicle was destroyed.

James Cameron, for Hughes, a self-employed builder, said the passengers had pressurised him to get a car, and one was messing about, distracting him, which resulted in the accident.

He said: "It sounds like other people contributed to him losing control. He accepts as a driver he should have stopped the car and pulled over."

A probation officer said Hughes had, in his younger years, been in a band signed to Virgin Records, but he had got into drugs.

After the split with his wife, he was homeless and had been temporarily housed at Calverts in Newport where he met the people who were his passengers that day.

Magistrates gave him a custodial sentence of 26 weeks, suspended for 18 months.

He must undertake 25 rehabilitation days.

He was banned from driving for 12 months.

He must pay £85 costs and a £128 surcharge.