A DRIVER has been jailed after deliberately driving at a group of men in a supermarket car park and seriously injuring one of them.

Zoltan Kanizsai was hurled into the air and spent a month in hospital after being left with brain and facial injuries, cracked ribs and a punctured lung, Bolton Crown Court heard.

Volkswagen driver Navid Ghalandari was caught after shocked onlookers who witnessed the incident in the car park at Morrisons off Chorley Old Road, Bolton, noted the registration number and handed it to police.

Iranian-born Ghalandari pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was sentenced to two years in prison.

Mark Kellet, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Kanizsai and his friend were unwilling to co-operate with the prosecution.

"Their whereabouts are no longer known," said Mr Kellet, who added that there were suggestions that the men had gone to the car park at 7pm on April 5 for a fight.

Mr Kanizsai and his friend had gone to the supermarket to meet Ghalandari's brother, Hussain Ghalandari, to discuss the break-up of the friend's relationship.

Mr Kellet said a group of around eight young men walked across the car park.

He added: "This defendant's brother, Hussain, walked towards the males and was then joined by Mr Kanizsai who offered to shake hands, but Hussain punched him in the face."

Witnesses said they then saw a small, blue VW car drive towards the group at around 50mph.

"It collided with Mr Kanizsai, sending him flying into the air before turning around," said Mr Kellet.

Hussain jumped into the car, the brothers sped off and Ghalandari, aged 28, of Fairfield Road, Droylsden, was arrested six days later.

The victim suffered complex facial fractures, which needed surgery, rib fractures, a punctured lung and a blood clot on the brain. He spent a week in intensive care and has since disappeared.

"He was speaking of fear causing him to move out of the area," said Mr Kellet.

Ghalandari appeared in the dock at court and listened to proceedings with the assistance of an interpreter.

John Williams, defending, said Ghalandari and his brother had come to the UK in 2015 seeking asylum after their family had been persecuted in Iran.

He added that, after the loss of his father and sister, Ghalandari began to suffer mental health issues and would self harm.

Sentencing Ghalandari to two years in jail, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson told him: "While this was a short incident it did involve a deliberate decision by you to drive at this group of men.

"It carried with it a risk of causing extremely serious harm. It could easily have resulted in death."

In addition to the prison term, Ghalandari was banned from driving for four years after which he will have to sit an extended test to regain his driving licence.