A drink-driver who took his stepfather's car without permission and then crashed into three parked cars has been banned from the road.

At Carlisle's Rickergate courts complex, Thomas John Maunsell, 23, entered guilty pleas to three offences: drink driving, uninsured driving, and aggravated vehicle taking. He committed all the offences on August 6.

John Moran, prosecuting, outlined how the Toyota car involved and the ignition keys for it were reported missing to the police by the defendant's stepfather Richard Maunsell in the early hours.

By this time, police had already had reports that the car had been found crashed in Smithfield village, near Carlisle, along with three other parked cars which were also hit in the crash.

“The defendant had collided with three vehicles, which were parked up, causing substantial damage to those vehicles,” said Mr Moran.

“Officers found the defendant in his bedroom upstairs, intoxicated.

“He also had facial injuries consistent with him being in a road traffic collision. He fully accepted the offences, saying that he took his stepfather's vehicle without consent and collided with the parked vehicles.

“He was ashamed and embarrassed.”

Maunsell, of Smithfield, near Carlisle, had no previous convictions, but was cautioned in 2012.

Rachel Dixon, for the defendant, said he was drinking with friends from 8pm that night and his last clear memory was of being in the pub.

“He then remembers being woken up by the police, and being arrested,” said Miss Dixon. “But he accepts he committed the offences.

She said the defendant worked for a house clearance firm, driving goods from place to place but would now be moved to different duties. The lawyer added that he had stopped drinking.

District Judge Gerald Chalk imposed 180 hours of unpaid work, with £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Maunsell's breath alcohol reading was 50mgs in 100mls of breath – the limit is 35mgs. He was banned from driving for 15 months.