Jack Macconnachie in Weymouth holiday park buggy crash

Jack Macconnachie, 27, staggered upon the powerful John Deere Gator buggy outside the Waterside Holiday Park at Bowleaze, Weymouth, as he walked home.

He used a knife he found inside the utility vehicle to start it up before taking it on a joyride.

Although he has little memory of the event he later said he thought it would be a good way to get home.

He drove it for four miles before he crashed into the side of a Fiat Ducato campervan which luckily was unoccupied at the time.

After the crash Macconnachie fled on foot.

Damage caused by the crash (Image: BNPS)

He was arrested at his home later and taken to hospital for treatment to injuries he got in the crash.

Weymouth Magistrates' Court heard Macconnachie had been out celebrating a friend's birthday on July 29 last year. He had been drinking heavily and taking cocaine, with the party continuing at a friend's house into the early hours of July 30.

Blood samples taken showed he was almost twice the drink drive limit, with a reading of 131mcg in 100ml of blood, and nearly five times the limit for Benzoylecgonine, the chemical created as the body breaks down cocaine.

Damage caused by the stolen John Deere Gator vehicle (Image: BNPS)

Robert Salame, prosecuting, said: "At between 7am and 7.30am the defendant took without consent a John Deere Gator vehicle. He started the engine using a knife he had found in the vehicle.

"He drove this vehicle and collided with a parked Fiat Ducato campervan, causing significant damage to both vehicles.

"He left the scene on foot and was later arrested at his home address. The defendant was taken to hospital as he had injuries consistent with being in a road traffic collision."

Jack Macconnachie was sentenced at Weymouth Magistrates Court (Image: BNPS)

Macconnachie, a self-employed bricklayer, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, driving with excess alcohol and drug driving.

His probation officer told the court: "Mr Macconnachie has very limited recollection of what happened, both due to his cocaine and alcohol use prior to the offence, and the fact he was hospitalised.

"The day prior he had been out celebrating for a friend's birthday. The celebration continued in the home of a friend, he was drinking heavily throughout the evening and into the night.

"He cannot fully understand his reason for taking the buggy from the holiday park, but it is near to this house party so he may have viewed it as a way to get home.

"The crash happened close to his home address and the victim is a friend of his mother's by chance, she was very apologetic to him about what has happened.

"He has expressed remorse. He's devastated and embarrassed about his actions."

Waterside Holiday Park, Weymouth (Image: BNPS)

Lee Christmas, defending, told the magistrates: "You have a guilty plea at the first opportunity, he made full and frank admissions to the police in interview, he co-operated throughout and provided samples.

"Since his arrest he has engaged with Reach and voluntarily does drug testing and attends weekly meetings."

Macconnachie was given a 12-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

The magistrates also ordered him to carry out a six-month drug rehabilitation course and gave him a six-month curfew between 9pm and 5am.

He was also ordered to pay £239 costs and disqualified from driving for 40 months.