A CAR passenger suffered serious head injuries and lost a finger after a drink-driver crashed into a tree, a court heard.

Caroline Miller is still in hospital following the collision at Grangemill, near Cromford, on December 7.

The car was driven by her ex-boyfriend, self-employed builder Piers Wood.

He lost control of his Volkswagen Golf on a bend on the A5012 Via Gellia road at 9.20pm.

"The vehicle collided with a road sign and a tree before coming back to rest on the carriageway," said Peter Bettney, prosecuting.

"He suffered slight injuries but his passenger wasn't so lucky."

He told Chesterfield magistrates that Ms Miller suffered injuries so severe it was initially feared her life was in danger.

She remains in a stable condition in intensive care at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre.

Wood, 42, told police: "It's all my fault. I'll be honest with you – I've had a drink."

He said he had shared two bottles of wine with Ms Miller and was driving too fast and lost control of his car.

Mr Bettney said Wood gave a reading of 71mg of alcohol in 100mls of breath – more than double the 35mg limit.

Wood, of Clematis Cottage, Middle Hill Farm, Grange-mill, admitted drink-driving and was handed an 8pm-8am curfew for six weeks, with £85 costs.

He also received a 22-month road ban which will be cut by a quarter if he passes a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

John Wilford, in mitigation, said Wood's ex-girlfriend contacted him "out of the blue" and visited him.

"Foolishly, they went for a drive," he said.

"They had gone a short distance when the car touched the verge and went off the road with very unfortunate consequences.

"He is traumatised by the incident and deeply regrets it.".