A drunken man drove a people carrier at up to 75mph with two young children inside – before crashing through railings and turning it into a ball of flames, it has been alleged.

Learner driver Michael Chapman from Sheerness was at the wheel of his lover's seven seater Vauxhall after downing beer in September last year, a jury was told.

The prosecution told how the children, aged one and two, were snatched from the burning vehicle which had also smashed into a tree in New Road, Sheerness.

Chapman, 28, of Second Avenue has denied causing serious injuries by driving dangerously.

Prosecutor Andrew Collings told Maidstone Crown Court that after the horror crash, Chapman's girlfriend had taken the blame because of fears over the insurance.

He claimed that during the day his girlfriend Fay Davis-Smith had spent time with a friend, Amber Holland.

He said: "She picked up Chapman in Sheerness and he sat in the front passenger seat.

"He had been drinking lager and later they drove to Sittingbourne where they were to meet Ms Holland's boyfriend."

He claimed that Chapman became irritated as they waited and Ms Davis had "formed the opinion he was becoming drunk and his eyes were glazed".

Mr Collings told the court: "She said that when he was drunk he became slightly more loud, confident and aggressive."

"At this point she felt that he was really out of control..." Andrew Collings

He claimed that when Ms Davis-Smith got out of the car, Chapman got into the driver's seat.

When she challenged him about his drinking and driving, Chapman told her "to get in or he would drive off".

"She was very concerned but she decided to get in the car rather than let him drive off and he began driving along the back streets which she thought was to avoid any potential contact with the police."

The car was driven to a working men's club in Minster where Chapman is alleged to have collided with a bollard and damaged the bumper.

The prosecutor added: "She said if his driving hadn't already gone downhill it had gone downhill from that point onwards.

"They stopped to examine the damage and Chapman then kicked the car in anger breaking one of the rear lights.

"At this point she felt that he was really out of control," he claimed.

Chapman then began revving the engine, performed handbrake turns and drove erratically.

The jury heard how along a straight road in Sheerness he was allegedly reaching speeds of up to 80mph before losing control.

The vehicle began swerving from side to side before Chapman is alleged to have shouted: "I've lost it."

The vehicle struck a tree before careering into gates when the engine then caught fire before exploding.

He said the two children were rescued from the burning vehicle but one of them suffered a serious leg injury and is still receiving treatment.

Ms Davis-Smith told the jury she had initially taken the blame for the crash claiming she had lost control after swerving when "something ran into the road".

She wept as she told the jury: "I regret (that decision) massively now."

The trial continues.

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