A COCAINE-fuelled motorist who drove at a man who he owed money to has been jailed for 18 months.

Glen Hart arranged to meet Kieran Griffin in Colliery Lane in Mancot to settle the debt he had run up using his victim’s bank card when paying for petrol.

But when he spotted Mr Griffin in nearby Mancot Lane he drove at him in his Audi, mounting a footpath and pinning him between the front of the vehicle and a pillar.

He then gesticulated at Mr Griffin before speeding off.

His victim was taken by air ambulance to hospital with a large 4cm gash in his knee which needed surgery too staple up the wound.

Hart was later arrested parked up a layby of the A41 near Whitchurch. A small plastic bag containing cannabis was found in the Audi and he test proved positive for cocaine. It was found he had consumed 127mcg of Benzoylecgonine, a cocaine metabolite, per litre of blood when the legal limit is 50.

Barrister Jemma Gordon, prosecuting, said: “The defendant used Mr Griffin’s bank card to pay for fuel, but he then left Flintshire for London.

“When he came back to the area Mr Griffin arranged to meet him on Colliery Lane. He saw the defendant’s Audi, but he didn’t stop and he continued to drive across Mancot Lane and mounted a footpath.

“Mr Griffin stepped backwards, but the front of the car struck him.”

The court heard Mr Griffin has not been able to work since the hit and run on July 26 last year.

Hart, 21, of Kent Avenue, Shotton, pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, drug driving and possession of cannabis.

He was also banned from driving for 45 months.

His barrister, Maria Masselis, said Hart’s family were forced out of their Flintshire home as a result of Hart’s association with Mr Griffin.

“Mr Griffin owed money to a friend of this defendant who chose not to “offer him up”. As a result his (Hart’s) family were targeted by those people who Mr Griffin owed a debt. There were threats and attempts to break into his property and an attempted arson.

“That is why he went to live in London at the time.”

Ms Masellis said Hart suffered from anxiety and depression and had written two letters of apology to the court.

But Judge Rhys Rowlands said his pre-sentence report made “very depressing” reading.

“It indicates that you don’t have any remorse for what you did,” said the judge.

“It was very dangerous and irresponsible driving.

"You drove at him in your car, mounted a pavement and had him pinned against a wall.

“Clearly there was ill feeling over some money you owed to him.

“You were throwing your weight around and using the car as some sort of weapon.”