A DRINK-driver has been jailed after he crashed his car through the front window of a beauty salon andinjured the owner and a customer.

Liam McDermott had downed two pre-Christmas cocktails before he tried to drive his VW Polo throughPaignton on the afternoon of December 16 last year.

He had already driven onto the pavement of a crowded shopping street and was caught on CCTV veering aroundthe road before he went straight through the front window of the Fuss Nail andBeauty Salon.

Owner Danielle Metherell and a customer she was treating were hit by the car and she was thrown acrossthe room, suffering an injured hip and a cut to her head that has left herpermanently scarred.

She was so badly hurt that she has been forced to give up running the shop, which has since been takenover by others.

She was left out of pocket because she had to pay staff while it was closed over the busy pre-Christmas period.

Teignbridge Council worker McDermott, aged 22, of New Street, Paignton, admitted dangerous driving.

He had previously admitted drink-driving at magistrates’ court. He also admitted carrying a sickle and a machete in Paignton in an unconnected incident in September.

He was jailed for 10 months and banned from driving for a year after his release by Recorder Mr Mathew Turner at Exeter Crown Court.

Miss Caroline Bolt, prosecuting, said streets in the centre of Paignton were busy with shoppers when McDermott twice drove onto pavements on the afternoon of December 16, finally crashing through the shop window.

The owner, Danielle Metherell, wrote a victim impact statement saying she is still in constant painand has lost her business as a result. Her injuries also prevented her givingher husband and two children the Christmas they planned.

McDermott had two passengers in his car, one of whom he left with a head injury as he fled the scene. He was tracked down by police and arrested. He blew an alcohol reading of 45 microgrammes, the limit being 35. 

He told officers he had two cocktails and had got into his car because he wanted to get away from an argument. 

Miss Bolt said he had been tasered twice and arrested after walking through Paignton on September 24 while armed with a machete and a sickle and refusing to drop them when challenged by police.

Miss Kelly Scrivener, defending, said McDermott now appreciates the pain and inconvenience he caused in the crash.

He has reduced his drinking after learning that his partner is pregnant. He has a steady job with Teignbridge Council.

She said he went out with the knives because he was threatened by two men who came to his door.