A dangerous driver who left an elderly motorist seriously injured has failed to convince top judges to overturn his conviction and set him free.

Jordan Anthony Bech, claimed he was not behind the wheel of an Audi S3 despite his DNA being found on the vehicle’s airbag.

The 24-year-old from Eltham Avenue, Litherland, Merseyside, was jailed for 20 months at Liverpool Crown Court on July 31 last year.

He was convicted of causing serious injury to Francis Williamson by dangerous driving.

Bech drove the Audi on Raven Meols Lane, Formby, dangerously and crashed into the pensioner’s Honda Jazz.

The 82-year-old victim suffered a broken vertebra and collarbone.

The airbag of the Audi was deployed in the collision and the driver’s door jammed shut, Mr Justice Sweeney told London’s Appeal Court today.

An eye-witness saw three men exiting the passenger door and escaping.

Lawyers for Bech challenged the safety of his conviction, arguing that the judge should have ruled that he had no case to answer.

There was not sufficient evidence to prove he was the driver of the Audi, they claimed.

His DNA could have been transferred to the airbag in three ways and the expert evidence was not conclusive in favour of any of them.

But Mr Justice Sweeney ruled that the Crown Court judge was right to leave the case to the jury.

“Accordingly this renewed application is refused,” concluded the appeal judge, who was sitting with Lord Justice Gross and Judge James Burbidge QC.