A 55-year-old claimed he drank alcohol and smashed his car into a garden as he continued to grieve for his mum.

Jorge Eric Zuinga was banned from the roads for 40 months for what was his second drink-driving offence in a decade.

Prosecutor Mr Lee Dacre told Furness Magistrates' Court on Tuesday how a witness saw the accident happen in Barrow.

He said: "It was about 2.10am on January 23. A male was walking along Dane Avenue towards Dalton Lane. A red Vauxhall Zafira came past him at speed and went to go around the corner but smashed straight into a garden in Whinlatter Drive.

"The witness went over and the defendant was trying to reverse the vehicle but failed. He got out and asked the witness if he was the owner of the property. The witness realised the driver had been drinking and called the police. When he looked back the defendant was making his way out of the garden

"Police went to the registered address of the car's owner and the defendant answered the door. He had cuts to his head and smelt strongly of alcohol and was arrested. He told police he had been drinking and remembers crashing and it was a stupid mistake."

Zuinga, of Brewery Street, Barrow, admitted driving with alcohol above limit. He had 72 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 35.

The court was told that Zuinga was also caught drink-driving on February 22, 2007. 

As a result it is an automatic minimum three-year ban.

Defending himself he said: "I have been looking after my father since my mother died a year ago and he is unwell.

"That day I had been in Asda and bumped into my cousin and my best friend from the 1970s. He told me his mum had died and she was a life-long friend of my mother.

"It was a year since my mum died and I think that was it and why I drank. It's out of character for me.

"I have been told to see a counsellor but I haven't.

"I am guilty but my father depends on me and my car."

As well as the ban Zuinga was fined £120, told to pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.