A DRUNKEN man who took his father's work van without permission wrote off two vehicles in a head on crash, a court heard.

Stephen Crabtree, 31, was told by Judge Jonathan Rose it was a miracle the other driver was not seriously injured or killed.

Bradford Crown Court was today told he had been out drinking with friends and decided to give one of them a lift home in his father's £12,000 Citroen Berlingo, on October 19 last year.

But Crabtree collided with a Mercedes Vito in Windy Bank Lane, Liversedge, shortly before 3am. He was found to be more than twice the legal drink drive limit.

Crabtree, who lived with his father in Moor Lane, Halifax, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving over the prescribed limit, driving while disqualified and having no insurance.

The court heard it was his fourth conviction for driving while disqualified and he had two previous convictions for drink driving.

His solicitor advocate, Michael Reeves, said his client had been extraordinarily stupid and had difficulties with alcohol.

Jailing him for 12 months and banning him from driving for three years, Judge Rose said Crabtree had an appalling driving record.

Judge Rose said the defendant had put other lives at risk through his binge drinking and it was time he grew up.

He added: "It is my public duty to send you to prison to punish you and deter others who may think it's no problem to drive at twice the limit, in somebody else's car and driving like a lunatic, as you clearly were."

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