A Wells businessman who collided head-on with a car containing five young women leaving them seriously injured was found to be over the drink-drive limit.

Robert James Tincknell, aged 32, managing director of the Wells-based Tincknell Fuels business, was on his way home from a dinner party with friends when the VW Transporter he was driving swerved across the carriageway of the A39 on the outskirts of Coxley.

Hope Llewellyn, who was driving a Ford Ka, steered to the opposite side of the road but was then hit by the defendant as he turned back onto his side of the road.

Tincknell was breathalysed at the scene and found to be over the limit. When arrested and interviewed he claimed to have swerved to avoid a badger.

His solicitor Andrew Gregg told South Somerset Magistrates that a forensic examination revealed that the three back-seat passengers in the Ford Ka had not been wearing seatbelts, which had probably exacerbated their injuries.

Tincknell, of Ash Lane, pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol during the incident on April 11.

He also admitted driving without due care and attention when he appeared before the court at Yeovil on Monday.

For drink driving he was banned from driving for two years and fined £1,500. He was fined a further £1,500 for the careless driving offence and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Judy Morris, prosecuting, said Tincknell was driving home at 10.50pm when the crash occurred.

She said: "He went onto the oncoming carriageway near the Indian restaurant in Coxley.

"The defendant then moved back to the correct side of the road and there was a head-on collision, which caused serious injuries to all the occupants of the Ka. Tincknell was uninjured."

Tincknell was arrested at the scene and at the police station a second test showed a reading of 54mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath; the legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol.

Miss Llewellyn suffered a broken sacrum, leaving no feeling in her leg, and ligament damage to her knee. The four passengers sustained numerous injuries including broken pelvis, broken limbs, fractured vertebrae and facial stitches.

The court was told that the defendant had been insured at the time and as a result any claims for compensation by the victims will be dealt with through the civil court.

Mr Gregg said that Tincknell had been invited to a friend's house for dinner and had a few glasses of wine but did not feel he was over the drink drive limit.

"There was a very thorough investigation carried out by the police and the rear seat passengers in the Ka did not have seatbelts on and unfortunately that may have been a contributory factor to the injuries they sustained."

He said that Tincknell was the managing director of the family business based in Wells and was responsible for the employment of 155 people. His job required him to travel but appreciated that he would now be unable to drive because of the offences.