POLICE have released shocking dash-cam footage of the moment a lorry driver crashed into a line of vehicles, near Alcester, causing life changing injuries to numerous people.

Martin Gibson, 54, of Bathurst Road, Gloucester, pleaded guilty to five counts of dangerous driving at Warwick Crown Court and was jailed for 15 months.

He was also disqualified from driving for just over three years and ordered to take an extended driving test.

Following his conviction on Friday, May 20 Warwickshire Police has released dash cam footage of a six vehicle collision which occurred on the A46 at Bishopton on May 21 last year.

Gibson was driving an articulated lorry on the A46 northbound towards Bishopton when the lorry collided with a white Renault Kangoo causing a multiple collision involving a grey Volkswagen Golf, white BMW 1 Series, black Nisssan Qashqai and a black Kawasaki motorcycle, which had all slowed down due to the approaching busy traffic.

PC Craig Marshall of Warwickshire Police Operational Patrol Unit said: "We have issued the footage, with the agreement of the families of those affected by the incident, as a warning to drivers to pay attention when behind the wheel.

"Mr Gibson's dangerous driving had caused substantial damage, and had the potential to cause loss of life of those within the vehicles that were struck in the space of a few seconds.

"All of this could have been avoided if he had paid attention to the road and anticipated possible traffic conditions ahead involving actions of other drivers.

"This just shows that not paying attention when behind the wheel of any vehicle can have life changing effects to those involved.

"I hope the sentence handed down by the court sends a stark warning to anyone who takes irresponsible and dangerous risks on the roads - it is simply not worth it."