A DANGEROUS driver who left a woman with whiplash and a broken arm in a crash was asked on oath if he had any convictions in his native Romania.

James Burbidge QC, asked Florin Coman to declare whether he had any prior offences in any other country, including Romania.

The driver had no full licence, never having passed a test, when he took the driving job before the crash in Worcestershire which left another driver with serious injuries. He has admitted dangerous driving. The case had been listed for sentence but could not go ahead without more information.

The 37-year-old was warned that if he was lying about have no previous convictions that is 'the most serious charge of perverting the course of public justice'. The judge also asked if any searches had been conducted on the defendant on Interpol. Details were relayed to the defendant via an interpreter at Worcester Crown Court on Friday.

Coman denied on oath that he had ever been before a court in Romania or any other country. He confessed he had been in a 'minor altercation' when he was at school when he was 16 but that the matter was dealt with within the school itself.

"Did it involve police?" said Michael Anning, defending.

Coman replied 'no'. "Is that the only trouble you have been in?" said Mr Anning.

The defendant replied 'yes'.

Olivia-May Appleby, prosecuting, said there were no statements from any victims following the crash in Frankley.

However, she said the occupier of the other car suffered 'whiplash and a fractured arm'.

Judge Burbidge, who agreed the sentence should be adjourned, said: "The Crown ought to get better evidence about the consequences of this, the victim's personal statement if necessary."

He adjourned the case until May 6 this year, allowing time for the probation service to prepare a pre-sentence report.

"The adjournment is to allow you to see someone from the probation service who will investigate whether there are any alternatives to custody. The prosecution will also obtain statements to make sure the judge knows what really happened and what injuries were caused as a result of your dangerous driving" said the judge.

It was noted that Coman had pleaded guilty at the earliest available opportunity. The judge added: "It's not clear to this court why you - a person with only a provisional licence - took a job of work where you were obliged to drive, without having passed a driving test."

Coman of Lea Road, Birmingham was granted bail to attend the next hearing. In the meantime, he is subject to an interim driving ban. He must pass an extended driving test before he drives again.