A motorcyclist who fled the scene of a crash leaving his pillion passenger seriously injured has been jailed.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Lee Gregory, 48, was riding a Yamaha R6 motorcycle along Pontygwindy Road, Caerphilly, when he crashed head-on with an oncoming car.

Gregory admitted charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, using a motor vehicle without insurance, driving a motor vehicle otherwise in accordance with a licence, and failing to stop after a road accident.

His pillion passenger, 39-year-old Neil Browning, was seriously injured in the crash, which happened at around 7.40pm on September 11, last year.

The passenger spent five days in intensive care after suffering a head injury and broken ribs.

The driver of the car which was hit by Gregory was uninjured.

Gregory, of Cheam Place, Llanishen, Cardiff, was jailed for 36 months and handed a six-and-a-half year driving ban when he appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, July 9.

He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £181 payable within three months of his release from prison.

PC Spencer Clease, of Gwent Police, said: “I hope this result gives some closure to the victim who received life-threatening injuries as a result of Gregory’s dangerous driving. 

“Gregory drove dangerously at high speeds on a road with a 30mph speed limit, overtaking vehicles in the process before crashing into an oncoming car.

“He fled the scene of the crash leaving his passenger on the floor with very serious injuries. He showed no concern or remorse for his passenger.

“The defendant also didn’t have the category on his licence to ride a motorcycle and was driving without insurance.”

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Gregory’s age is 47 – this was his age at the time of the offence.