An unlicensed drink-driver stole his dad’s car and crashed outside a Leeds pub in what was described as a 'catastrophic decision'.
Daniel Meeson was almost three times the drink-drive limit when he narrowly missed hitting three pedestrians.
The 27-year-old had taken his dad's Ford Focus after returning home to parents' house in the early hours of December 7 last year.
Leeds Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of the car veering off Hyde Park Road and mounting the pavement outside the One Stop Shop.
It hit two bollards before almost striking three pedestrians.
Meeson continued before crashing into fencing and picnic tables outside the pub.
A police officer on patrol in the area blocked Meeson's path with his car when he tried to run away.
Meeson was arrested and blew 100 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol.
Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said:
"He came within a hair's breadth of killing or seriously injuring three people."
Meeson's dad said later that he had let his son into the house at 2am and remarked he was 'so drunk he could not stand'.
He took the car after his dad went back to bed.
Meeson, of St John's Close in Hyde Park, Leeds, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.
Giving evidence, Meeson's father Colin told the court his son had never taken the car before and it was out of character.
Mr Meeson said he was surprised his son had managed to drive that far, adding: "What has happened there is disgraceful. He is lucky he has not killed anyone, never mind himself."
Martin Morrow, mitigating, said Meeson had been using alcohol as a 'coping mechanism' since being the victim of an attack in 2016, adding: "It was a catastrophic decision he made."
Meeson was handed an 11-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
He was ordered to complete a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a three-month alcohol treatment programme.
Meeson was also banned from driving for three years and made subject to a six-month electronically-monitored curfew.
