A DRINK-DRIVING motorist crashed a car into three parked vehicles.

Anthony Moorhead, 23, was spared an immediate prison sentence for a string of motoring offences after being told at court he had “one last chance” to sort his life out.

Greg Hoare, prosecuting, told Carlisle Crown Court that the car Moorhead was driving was not his own and that the circumstances as to how he ended up behind the wheel were “shrouded with a degree of mystery”.

Moorhead, who does not hold a driving licence, was spotted on Newlaithes Avenue in Morton, Carlisle, by two police officers on December 20. 

“The car seemed to go straight across the street (from a junction) and into Chestnut Hill, which is a cul-de-sac,” said Mr Hoare.

“The police thought it was rather odd; it had speeded up and they followed it into Chestnut Hill and it gathered speed, though it was not travelling at excessive speed.

“It then ran into three parked vehicles.”

The court heard Moorhead, of Millholme Avenue, Stanwix, Carlisle, had struggled to get out of the car and had to be helped out by the officers.

They then breathalysed him and found he had 51mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg in 100ml.

At a previous hearing, Moorhead had pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, drink-driving, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

Mr Hoare said Moorhead had a long list of previous convictions and that about half were for breaching court orders.

Mark Shepherd, defending, said Moorhead had a history of alcohol, cannabis and diazepam abuse, which he was now addressing.

He added: “None of these substances have provided the answer, he needs to better himself.”

Judge Barbara Forrester said: “It is time you grew up and behaved yourself in the way you ought to.

“Otherwise you will get to your forties or fifties with very little of your life at liberty and the majority of your time in custody.”

She added: “This really is your last chance to make something of your life.”

Moorhead was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to take part in a drug treatment programme and do 80 hours of unpaid work. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and had to pay a £100 victim surcharge.