An unqualified driver who slammed a car into a motorcyclist and left him for dead before burning the vehicle has been jailed.

Ian Prater lost control of the BMW after overtaking on an accident black-spot bend on the A37 in August last year, a court heard.

After spinning and missing two cars, he slammed backwards into biker Simon Oborne, aged 41, sending him flying 15ft through the air before he landed on a hedge.

Mr Oborne's leg was shattered and a rib broken and he has been unable to work in almost 10 months since the accident.

Prater fled the scene before torching the BMW, which was registered to his brother-in-law, in a field.

The 44-year-old, of Bishport Avenue, Hartcliffe, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and doing an act tending to pervert the course of public justice.

He also admitted failing to report and stop at an accident, driving other than in accordance with a driving licence and driving without insurance. He was jailed for a year at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.

James Ward, prosecuting, said at 7.15am on August 8 last year Mr Oborne, an experienced motorcyclist, was riding to work on his Honda XL 650 at 45mph on the A37 between Farrington Gurney and Clutton.

Mr Ward said a driver coming the other way, Rebecca Fowler, noticed a BMW overtaking a Transit van behind her before it overtook her.

"He appeared to be going too fast," Mr Ward said. "The BMW spun 360 degrees and on its second spin it hit Mr Oborne on his bike at 50 to 60mph.

Prater then drove off and at 7.46am called his brother-in-law, Anthony Gould, to say the BMW had been stolen.

It was at 9.30am when police went to a field away from the crash site and found the burnt out BMW. At 11.45am police visited Prater's home and he said it was him they were looking for.

Mr Ward said Prater admitted he had never had a driving lesson, let alone passed a driving test, and he said he hadn't seen the motorcyclist.

Ramin Pakrooh, defending, said he was surprised to discover his client was a man of good character, with no criminal record.

Mr Pakrooh said: "He says he knew there had been an impact and he says he thought it was a car. He drove off in panic. Very soon after the vehicle was burnt out, the number plate was collected and police went to his address.

"When they came he said 'I'm the man you're looking for'."

The court heard Prater had suffered from a decade of depression and it was felt prison could result in further deterioration of his mental health and make him the target of bullying.

Imposing sentence Judge Simon Darwall-Smith told Prater: "You drove in a dangerous manner, too fast in the wet, spinning your car and injuring the victim.

"You failed to stop and you attempted to destroy the evidence by burning your car and asking your brother-in-law to report it stolen."

After the hearing father-of-three Mr Oborne, a project engineer from Midsomer Norton, said he has had to walk with a stick and wear a frame bracing his right leg while his shattered bones mend.

He said not being able to work had put a strain on family finances and his life had been on hold for 10 months, with him not able to even kick a ball with his children, enjoy keeping fit or have a social life.

Mr Oborne said: "You can't tell me he didn't know he hit me – I was wearing luminous gear.

"He didn't know whether I was dead or alive and I don't feel any sympathy for him at all. I think he got off light – I will have easily another year's disruption in my life while he will get six months. I would have liked him to get a couple of years."