A DRINK driver was told he could easily have killed someone after he ploughed into five cars while nearly three times the limit.

Robert Tipton was hospitalised following the crash in Ombersley Road, Worcester.

The 24-year-old of Bevere Court, Bevere, Worcester, admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Thursday.

Kerry Lovegrove, prosecuting, said the crash happened at 2.55am on May 4 when police were called to the scene of the accident involving Tipton's Nissan Micra.

Mrs Lovegrove said he had crashed into five parked vehicles and a roadside breath test proved positive.

Tipton had to be taken to hospital for further examination which is where police obtained a blood sample.

The reading was 233mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, close to three times the limit of 80mg.

Mark Lister, defending, said Tipton was a man of good character but that he could not really explain why he decided to drive as he had no recollection of getting into the car.

"His first recollection is being in hospital" Mr Lister told magistrates.

He conceded the crash was an 'aggravating feature' of the case but urged magistrates to give Tipton full credit for his early guilty plea.

Tipton, who has been driving for the last six years, hopes to start a university course next week. He had no previous penalty points or disqualifications.

Chairman of the magistrates bench, Keith Stokes-Smith, said: "It's a disgusting level of alcohol in your blood. Thank God you didn't kill anyone or indeed yourself by your foolishness. I hope you have learned a very serious lesson."

They handed him a 12 month community order which will include 60 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Tipton will be banned from driving for 24 months. The length of the disqualification will be reduced by a quarter if he completes the course which he must pay for himself.

He was also ordered to pay court costs of £135 and a victim surcharge of £85.