A DAD-OF-TWO who drunkenly crashed into five parked cars on the A590 causing more than £30,000 worth of damage has avoided jail.

Damien Lodge, 28, of Windmill Crescent, Skelmanthorpe, Huddersfield, appeared at Furness Magistrates' Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen after a collision on the A590 in Lindal on October 2.

Mr Peter Kelly, prosecuting, told the court how the defendant had argued with his partner, who lives in Plymouth Street, Walney, following a boozy night out in Barrow on October 1.

Lodge then picked up his belongings and left the property with the intention of finding somewhere to sleep in Barrow.

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However, he decided to drive back to Huddersfield and at around 3am on October 2, he lost control of his blue Ford Focus on the A590 in Lindal and crashed into five parked cars.

Police arrived to find the defendant slumped at the wheel of his car which had come to a halt in the middle of the carriageway. Officers reported that his eyes were glazed and he smelt strongly of alcohol.

Lodge refused to be breathalysed at the scene of the crash and was taken to Furness General Hospital before being held in custody at Barrow Police Station where he still failed to provide a breath sample.

Witness statements were read out in court by Mr Kelly from the owners of the vehicles who had their cars wrecked, including Lyndsey Wicks, whose red Mercedes was damaged in the incident.

She said: "I don't know how someone could be so stupid. I feel very angry and I can't believe he has driven in this manner."

Mr Michael Graham, defending, said: "It was not a planned decision. There had been a disagreement that evening and to prevent an escalation he left the premises and made the error of choosing to drive.

"He was emotional and not thinking straight but drove on. He says that he was not focused on the situation by virtue of events that had just happened."

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Mr Graham also added that Lodge, who has two children aged five and five months, had not consumed alcohol since the crash and is remorseful and apologetic for the damage caused.

Presiding magistrate, Mrs Lynne Slavin, warned the defendant that this was a "very serious accident with substantial costs both financially and by the inconvenience caused to those affected."

However, the bench chose to give him a 16-week sentence suspended for 12 months, as well as a community order of 200 hours of unpaid work.

Lodge was also disqualified from driving for four years and ordered to pay court costs of £85 as well as a victim surcharge of £140.