A DANGEROUS driver who left a French motorcyclist with life-changing injuries in a crash on the A303 near Bulford has been jailed and will be deported from the UK after serving his sentence.

Muhammad Umair, 30, of Sandhurst, was sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on Friday after previously admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He was jailed for two years, banned from driving for five years and ordered to be deported on his release.

The collision happened on May 23 when Umair, driving a Toyota Yaris eastbound on the A303, suddenly moved from lane one into lane two directly into the path of a BMW 1250cc motorcycle.

The rider, a French tourist in his 60s, had been travelling sensibly with the flow of traffic but had no time to brake or avoid the collision. He suffered life-changing injuries.

Police said dashcam footage from passing motorists captured the incident in full and proved vital in securing Umair’s guilty plea at the earliest opportunity.

Following the sentencing, lead investigator Paul Brewster, from the Serious Collision Investigation Team, said: “All our thoughts continue to be with the injured motorcyclist and his family, whose lives were changed in a split-second by Umair’s actions.

“I also want to thank the members of the public that stopped to offer lifesaving first aid to the motorcyclist and particularly to three members of the public who remained at the scene for an extended period to allow us to download the dash camera evidence from their vehicles.

“It was their support that meant Umair pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and enabled us to secure this conviction.

“This awful case highlights the seriousness of careless and dangerous driving and why they are one of the fatal five offences.

“Umair changed lanes despite seeing the motorcyclist and took a huge risk that fell far below the standard expected of a careful and competent driver, leading to an innocent tourist to this country sustaining life-changing injuries and permanent disability as a result.

“We will continue to conduct operations which target the fatal five offences to keep our roads as safe as possible.”