Shocking CCTV released of moment teenager ploughs into group of five men in dad's BMW

The scene of the incident in Canvey Credit: Dave Stephens

A teenager has been detained for more than three years after ploughing intofive men in his father's BMW as they walked along a pavement.

Max Maxwell, 18, lost control of the car having taken it without permissionafter passing his driving test the previous week.

The vehicle swung onto the wrong side of the road before mounting the footpath and crashing into the pedestrians after overtaking at high speed as it approached a roundabout in Canvey, Essex, Basildon Crown Court heard.

"Shocking" CCTV footage released by Essex Police shows the victims, who are all friends in their 20s, being knocked down and flung across the pavement before Maxwell climbs out of the car window.

WARNING: The video below contains footage some viewers might find distressing.

The force said they were left with "life-changing physical and emotionalinjuries", and Sergeant Steve Holmes added it was "a miracle" no one waskilled.

The men had been on their way to watch the Grand National at a local pub on April 14.

Maxwell, from Canvey, handed himself in to police 20 hours after he fled thescene.He was sentenced to three years and three months in a young offenders'institution, having pleaded guilty to three counts of causing serious injury bydangerous driving, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), one count of aggravated vehicle taking and one count of driving without insurance.

Maxwell was also banned from driving for more than five years and sevenmonths. Police said the victims have been discharged from hospital and are recovering from their injuries at home.

Sgt Holmes said: