A BROMLEY man, who crippled a pedestrian for life through drink driving, has been jailed for 18 months and banned from driving for five years.

Michael McLaughlin, aged 34, of Hillbrow Road, Bromley, admitted dangerous driving, being over the alcohol limit and failing to stop after an accident, at Croydon Crown Court.

The builder lost control of his Porsche in Bromley Road, Beckenham, on September 6, 2001.

He mounted the pavement and hit David West, breaking his leg and pelvis, then drove on, hitting a fence and a parked car, before parking in Westgate Road and continuing on foot.

His wife, who is expecting the couple's third child, called the police when he arrived home.

He was arrested and found to have two and a half times the legal maximum alcohol reading.

McLaughlin was picked out at an identity parade and said he could remember nothing about an accident and believed he had not been driving at the time.

A surgeon stated Mr West will continue to have hip and leg trouble.

Defending, Michael Burke said the best mitigation he could offer was his guilty plea.

Judge Cedric Joseph said: "This is as bad a case of dangerous driving as one could possibly imagine.

"A man was seriously injured and will suffer for the rest of his life.

"You have a previous conviction for alcohol and, what is worse, you tried to lie your way out of the difficulties you got into, telling police you had not been driving."