Hartlepool driver took dad's car after downing eight pints and crashed into a Skoda Octavia and house

Marc Slimings, 31, had drank about eight pints on November 29 before getting behind the wheel of his father’s Vauxhall Astra on the Fens estate, Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard.

But he collided with a parked Skoda Octavia on Honiton Way and shortly afterwards Slimings crashed into the front of a house on Catcote Road.

When police breathalysed him he was found to be almost three times the alcohol limit.

At an earlier hearing he admitted driving with 100 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, with the limit being 35.

A probation officer told the court that Slimings was drinking too much at the time to cope with the breakdown of a relationship.

The officer said: “He says he foolishly decided to take his dad’s car to the shop for some cigarettes.

“He accepts he should never have took his dad’s car without permission.”

The court heard Slimings, a bricklayer, believed he swerved to avoid an animal and lost control of the car.

The probation officer added: “He demonstrated remorse throughout the interview. He said he feels ashamed and has brought his family’s name into shame.”

Alan Davidson, prosecuting, said damage was caused to the Skoda and the house suffered cracks to its internal walls.

Slimings, of Mildenhall Close, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, drink driving and driving without insurance or a licence at an earlier appearance.

District Judge Kristina Harrison ordered him to pay £350 compensation each to his father, and the owners of the Skoda Octavia and house he hit.

“It was a stupid situation you got yourself into over a relatively short period of time obviously as a result of the breakdown of your relationship.”

Slimings was also banned from driving for two years and made the subject of an 18-month community order.

He also ordered to pay £100 compensation after pleading guilty to assaulting a police officer by throwing a trainer at him on December 1, and admitted possessing cocaine while at Middlehaven police custody suite on December 7.