A FOOTBALL fan who drove his BMW car after watching an England game and drinking too much has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Patrick Temple, 22, was seen weaving in and out of traffic and tailgating other motorists as he drove in the Currock area of Carlisle.

His madcap journey ended when he stopped at traffic lights and his car rolled backwards, colliding with another vehicle.

At Carlisle Crown Court, the defendant, of Laurel Close, Infirmary Street, Carlisle, admitted dangerous driving and failing to give police a breath specimen for analysis.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting, described how other motorists noticed Temple's BMW because of the way it was being driven in the Currock area on the afternoon of Saturday, July 14.

Several people were so concerned they made 999 calls to the police.

One couple who were driving in the area noticed the defendant's BMW coming up behind their car quickly and were so concerned they braced themselves, expecting a collision.

"They were in a 30mph zone, and estimate that he was doing at least double that," said Mr Burke.

"They did avoid a collision; he swerved around them and overtook.

"They then noticed he was weaving backwards and forwards across the road, tailgating another vehicle in front of them.

'He tried to overtake that vehicle, again weaving in and out of the lanes. "

A short time later, at traffic lights, the BMW halted, and rolled back into the couple's car, scraping its wheel arch and wing.

Police later found Temple's car parked on a grass verge beside the Lifestyle Fitness gym in Currock, said Mr Burke.

A roadside breath-test indicated that he had 122mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath - more than three times the limit.

But at Durranhill Police HQ in Carlisle, Temple refused to provide a specimen for analysis. But he did tell the police officers he was devastated and sorry for what he had done.

Mark Shepherd, for Temple, accepted it was fortunate nobody was injured.

But the lawyer outlined how the defendant - who had recently served a driving ban for driving while under the influence of cocaine - had struggled to come to terms with his mother's breast cancer diagnosis when he was 19.

"They're a very close family and things looked bleak for a period of time," said the lawyer.

"Not uncommonly for young men undergoing emotional turmoil, rather than talking to people about what was troubling him, what he decided to do was spend time with his friends, drinking to excess, instead.

'All he was doing was blocking out thoughts; distracting himself from what was really going on in his life."

Mr Shepherd said his client's boss valued him so much he had agreed to help pay for counselling to help him.

Recorder Julie Clemitson said the defendant had behaved with remarkable immaturity by driving after drinking so much during the England game that he was heavily impaired.

"I accept that you are thoroughly ashamed," she said. The judge imposed a three year driving ban; an eight month jail term, suspended for 18 months; 100 hours of unpaid work; and 15 days rehabilitaiton activity.

After his ban is over, Temple will have to pass an extended driving test before he can drive unaccompanied. He must also complete a drink impaired driver's programme.