See the moment man smashed his sister's car into three parked vehicles on day he was released from prison

Nicholas Stoker, 31, is starting eight weeks behind bars for an offence which saw him smash up the Vauxhall Vectra in Redcar Road, Hylton Red House.

After stumbling free on Monday, January 11, Stoker told stunned householders: “I’m off then. I’ve just got out of prison today”, a court heard.

Seconds earlier, the provisional licence holder had tried to drive away but gave up because the rear wheels were missing and the airbags had deployed.

The accident was caught on CCTV and witnesses gave his description to police – and Stoker, of Dent Close, Haswell, was arrested the next day.

Sentencing him, Tony Hewitson, chairman of the magistrates’ bench, told the court: “We feel we’ve been offered no mitigation.

“It was on the day of your release from prison. It’s hard to believe how serious this is.”

At an earlier hearing, the court heard the Vauxhall Vectra belonged to his sister.

She had given permission for a friend to take it in for an MOT but was contacted later the same day by police to say it had been involved in a collision.

Despite its rear wheels being torn off and safety airbags deployed, Stoker made an effort to drive off.

The earlier hearing was told Stoker, who had served a prison term for breaching a restraining order, had not appeared drunk.

The court was told that Stoker has several theft convictions, including taking a vehicle without consent and handling stolen goods.

Stoker pleaded guilty to failing to stop after an accident, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and aggravated vehicle taking.

Magistrates also banned him from driving for 18 months.

The magistrates also imposed a four-week jail term, to run concurrently, for the length of the driving ban he is likely to miss by being in prison.

He must also pay £350 compensation to the owners of two of the damaged cars.

There were no court costs or victim surcharge imposed by the court.

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