An 18-year-old whose dangerous driving on a country lane near Hitchin injured two other motorists has admitted the crash was his fault – and narrowly avoided losing his licence.

William Mercer, of Butchers Lane in Preston, pulled out onto the wrong side of Stevenage Road while driving a Vauxhall Corsa near Redcoats Green – and smashed into the rear offside of another car before rebounding into a head-on crash with a 4x4.

And on Thursday Stevenage magistrates chaired by Kathryn Haskell put five points on the 18-year-old’s licence, meaning he narrowly avoided a driving ban.

The crash happened on July 15 last year, about 500m west of Lower Titmore Green.

The Corsa driven by Mercer crashed into the rear offside of another Corsa, then rebounded and smashed head-on into a Nissan Qashqai.

The driver of the second Corsa suffered whiplash, while the Qashqai driver was left with a broken sternum.

The crash damaged the bodywork, wheel and axle of the second Corsa, and heavily damaged the front of the Qashqai.

Mercer, who pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, must pay a £153 fine, £85 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Drivers have their licence revoked if they have 12 or more points – or six points if they are accrued within two years of passing the driving test.