TWO women out in Leamington for a hen night called police after seeing a drunken man getting into his car and driving away.
Ten minutes later officers found Kevin Collins sitting next to the car, which had collided with a parked vehicle, Warwick Crown Court has heard.
When he was arrested he denied having been the driver, but later pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen of breath.
The 35 year-old of Cumberland Crescent, Leamington, was sentenced to eight months in prison suspended for 18 months, ordered to take part in a drink-impaired driver’s programme, and banned from driving for three years.
Prosecutor Justin Jarmola said on February 19 two women who were in Leamington town centre for a hen do saw Collins approaching a Ford Focus parked in Warwick Street.
Convinced he was drunk, they watched him sit in the car for about a minute before he drove off, almost hitting one of them as he made a left turn.
They called the police as he drove the wrong way down a one-way street, scraping down the side of a parked car in Windsor Street and ripping the wing mirror off.
Ten minutes later the police found Collins sitting next to the Focus in Warwick Street.
He claimed he had not been the driver, and refused to supply his details or to take a breath test, so he was arrested.
Mr Jarmola added Collins’s previous convictions included two for driving with excess alcohol.
Sarah Holland, defending, said Collins worked, and had a partner and two children.
Sentencing him, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano told Collins: “Clearly this warrants a prison sentence, but I will suspend it.
“It was a very dangerous offence. I have people in this court who miss family members because of this type of offence.
“If you breach this order, you will come back before me. I very much hope we do not meet again. Please do not get behind the wheel of a car again.”
