text: Ben Hagon's (pictured) high-powered Mercedes sports car crashed into Tara McIntyre leaving her with life-changing injuries . A driver  destroyed a young woman's life when he smashed into her car after taking a lethal cocktail of drink and prescription drugs has been jailed. Tara McIntyre, 24, was left virtually wheelchair-bound after Ben Hagon's high-powered Mercedes sports car crashed into her at up to 75mph, a court heard. She had just popped out to the shops in her small KA when she was hit by the drunk-driver and suffered the life-changing injuries which included a fractured spine and pelvis. The court heard that Hagon, who already had a conviction for drink-driving in 2003, had taken prescription tranquilisers and was more than twice the legal alcohol limit when got behind the wheel. Judge David Turner branded Hagon's driving 'madness' - and accused him of changing Miss McIntyre's life for the worse for ever. Sentencing him to two years and eight months in prison, Judge Turner said: 'Miss McIntyre went on what ought to have been a simple shopping trip and has been left with injuries which are literally life changing. 'She will be dependent on others for help for the rest of her life. The medical consequences have been utterly traumatic.' 'This personal catastrophe has been brought about fully by those moments of madness in your driving. 'I accept you feel considerable remorse. This is frankly as bad a piece of driving in combination one can imagine.' Hagon was overtaking a line of cars on the A131 at High Garrett, near Braintree, Essex (pictured) when he ploughed into the side of Miss McIntyre's Ford Ka . Chelmsford Crown Court heard that Hagon was overtaking a line of cars on the A131 at High Garrett, near Braintree, Essex, when he ploughed into the side of Miss McIntyre's Ford Ka as she waited to turn right. One eye-witness estimated he was hitting 75mph in the 40mph stretch of road in his 54-plate Mercedes SLK. But others said his speed was closer to 50-60mph before the horrifying smash  at about 2.15pm on February 2 last year. Police crash investigators found that Hagon had made no attempt to brake. Miss McIntyre was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, by air ambulance suffering head injuries, a fractured spine and pelvis, and a cut to her artery. She spent the next three months in hospital, including some time in an induced coma, and a further two months in a special rehabilitation facility. Miss McIntyre was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital after the crash with terrible head injuries, a fractured spine and pelvis . The formerly independent young woman now needs help with basic day-to-day tasks and has been told she will spend most of her life in a wheelchair as she is only able to walk just 60 yards with a stick. She was also left partially sighted and had to learn to speak again after brain damage caused by the crash. Miss McIntyre's boyfriend, who was sitting beside her in the front seat, amazingly escaped with minor injuries, as did Hagon. Jane Oldfield, prosecuting, said Hagon had been banned for drink-driving in October 2003. She also said Miss McIntyre's devastated parents were now having to move house as their home could not be adapted sufficiently to care for their seriously-disabled daughter. Hagon, of Halstead, Essex, had been out drinking the night before and downed Champagne, three pints of beer and a jug of cocktail, the court heard. A blood test calculated he had 161 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood- double the legal limit. Hagon admitted drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for two years eight months at Chelmsford Crown Court (pictured) He had also swallowed prescription tranquillisers as part of treatment he's having for anxiety. The court heard he had blatantly ignored advice not to drive while taking the powerful drugs after being warned that their effects would be worsened when combined with alcohol. Rakesh Sharma, defending, said Hagon was now seeking help for alcohol addiction and did not intend to ever drive again. Mr Sharma said: 'He thinks about the victim every day and can't believe what he has done.' Hagon admitted drink-driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was jailed for two years and eight months. He was also banned from driving for five years. He will have take an extended re-test if he does want to drive again. No award was made for compensation or costs due to the prison term, but Hagon must pay a victim surcharge.
target: Tara McIntyre, 24, was left with life-changing injuries after horrifying smash .
  Ben Hagon had been more than double legal alcohol limit when he crashed .
  Witnesses claimed his Mercedes was speeding up to 75mph in 40mph zone .
  Victim suffered fractured spine and pelvis leaving her wheelchair-bound .