A DRUNKEN driver who raced through a Newport suburb, at one point pursued by the police, crashed into cars causing thousands of pounds of damage and ended up colliding with the side of a house, causing a one-inch crack from the roof to the ground, Cardiff crown court has heard.

Michael Swansbury, 27, of Feering Road, Newport, was jailed for 12 months and banned from driving for two years.

Judge Nicholas Cooke said "A strong message must go out. Your driving was quite appalling and endangered the lives of innocent members of the public."

Swansbury had admitted at Newport magistrates court charges of aggravated vehicle taking, failing to stop after an accident, dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol, and without insurance and without a licence.

Prosecutor Karl Williams said that on August 26 at about 6.40pm Swansbury unlawfully took a £16,500 Vauxhall Tavira.

Three hours later he drove down Dolphin Street and "collided with several vehicles without stopping."

The police spotted him driving at about sixty miles an hour along Caerleon Road, swerving dangerously. He failed to stop and they ended their pursuit because it was so dangerous.

Shortly after he crashed through a fence, went across a garden, hit a wall.

He then collided with a £10,000 Ford Mondeo, which was a write off, and then debris from the damaged building hit a Renault car.

When police arrived on the scene, said Mr Williams, Swansbury denied being the driver.

He later admitted he had been drinking all day and could not remember much.

He was found to have 105 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - three times the limit.

He, himself, described his driving as "absolutely atrocious."

His counsel, Hilary Roberts, said he had turned to drink because of emotional turmoil.

Judge Cooke pointed out that if a person being pursued by the police stopped, it would count as significant mitigation when they came to court, but there would be severe sentences if they went on to drive dangerously.

In South Wales and in Newport, in particular, lives have been lost by those trying to avoid apprehension by the police."