An off-duty soldier caused a multi-car smash when he got behind the wheel after a heavy drinking session.

Craig Connolly almost killed his uncle and was badly inured himself when he lost control of his Fiat and smashed into five parked cars in the early hours of October 16 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how one witness claimed Connolly had been travelling at around 90 mph on Hedgeley Road, Hebburn, when the accident happened.

Connolly, 20, who was home in Hebburn on leave, smashed his motor into five cars parked in the street, causing varying amounts of damage to each of them.

He and his uncle Michael Reed, who was his front seat passenger, ended up trapped inside his motor and were taken to hospital.

Mr Reed's injuries were initially considered life threatening but it is now believed he will make a good recovery, although he still uses crutches.

Connolly broke both of his wrists in the smash.

A blood sample taken at hospital showed Connolly, who had been drinking since about 4pm, was more than twice over the legal limit.

In police interview Connolly said he and his uncle had gone back to the car after the drinking session and he lost control after his uncle tried to grab the wheel.

Prosecutor Bridie Smurthwaite told te cour: "His uncle could not remember anything between leaving the pub and waking up in hospital"

Connolly admitted dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

His barrister Tim Gittens told teh court: "He engaged in a drinking session with his uncle and frankly both of them ought to have known better than to get into the car at the end of a very long evening.

"They are both fortunate no-one else was injured at all.

"One only has to look at the photographs of the vehicle he was driving to understand what could have happened if there had been a vehicle coming the other way."

Mr Gittens said Connolly, who had no previous convictions and glowing references, has been deeply effected by what has happened.

Connolly is planning to leave the army at the end of the year.

Mr Recorder Patrick Cosgrove jailed Connolly for two months and banned him from driving for 15 months.

The judge told him: "I would estimate in 2006 across the world over a million people were killed by motor vehicles.

"They are lethal weapons but sometimes young people fail to realise that they can be dangerous.

"You made a huge error of judgement that night, you were well over the limit and you were travelling at excess speed.

"WHatever your uncle did or did not do, you did not take the opportunity to stop.

"I cannot overlook the gravity and the risk to members of the public by what you carried out that day."