Drink driver caused carnage by smashing into parked cars on Castleford street while four times the legal limit
Motorist who was banned took 4x4 without asking the owner
A disqualified driver who was almost four times over the alcohol limit smashed into parked cars and caused thousands of pounds in damages.
Shane Lupton had also been caught behind the wheel a month earlier.
The 50-year-old admitted a string of offences at Leeds Crown Court where he was given a suspended sentence.
Officers driving through Castleford first spotted Lupton behind the wheel of a car on the afternoon of January 14.
Recognising him and knowing he was already banned, they turned to follow him. He pulled into a petrol station and tried to get out and walk away, leaving the engine running.
Approached by the officers he eventually admitted he had been driving.
But on February 12, he and a friend took a Mitsubishi Outlander in Castleford without the owner’s permission, but only got a few hundred feet away before smashing into a silver Mercedes parked on School Street.
He then continued and smashed into a parked Ford Focus.
A shocked witness chased the Freelander and grabbed the keys from ignition and closed the door to keep Lupton inside until police arrived.
A male in the passenger side managed to escape.
Lupton was breathalysed by officers and blew 134 mcgs in 100 mls of breath. The legal limit is 35 mcgs.
Prosecutor Caitlin Smith said the Mercedes, worth up to £8,500, was written off. Around £400 damage was caused to the Focus.
Lupton, of Wheldon Road, Castleford, has 73 convictions for 123 offences.
He admitted two counts of driving while banned, drink driving, aggravated vehicle taking, criminal damage and having no insurance.
He also admitted theft from a shop after stealing £54 worth of nail polish from Superdrug in Castleford.
Mitigating, Craig Sutcliffe said Lupton had initially been held on remand, was later bailed and had stayed out of trouble.
But little further mitigation was offered after Judge Colin Burn said he would not lock him up.
He gave him a 10-month sentence, suspended for 18 months with 15 rehabilitation days to complete with probation.
He was also given a nine-month alcohol treatment requirement, and a three-year driving ban.