A Hitchin man who flipped the car he was driving on the A505, causing serious head and hand injuries to a 14-year-old passenger, has been left £630 out of pocket and given six penalty points on his driving licence.

Jamil Malik, of Girdle Road, was convicted of driving without due care and attention when he appeared at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The crash happened after Malik, who was driving a blue Renault Clio towards Hitchin on the dual carriageway section of the A505, overtook a lorry that was in the inside lane.

About 100 yards on the Clio, which was perceived by witnesses to be exceeding the 70mph speed limit, hit the kerb on the road’s central reservation.

The court heard that the 38-year-old lost control of the car, and braked and swerved across the inside lane in front of a silver Vauxhall Corsa.

The Clio spun to the nearside verge, hit a tree and flipped onto its roof – then fell back onto the carriageway where it hit the Corsa.

A 14-year-old passenger in the Clio sustained serious injuries to the head and the left hand, and required 10 stitches to the latter.

Malik pleaded not guilty to driving without due care and attention, but the presiding judge found him guilty and fined him £110.

He was also ordered to pay £500 in costs and a £20 victim surcharge, and had six penalty points placed on his driving licence.

Motorists with more than two years’ experience who get 12 points within three years risk being banned from driving – those with driving licences less than two years old can be banned with only six points, and must pass both the theory and practical tests again.