TWO young children were earlier playing in the bay window area of a house into which a drug driver ploughed his car an hour later, a court heard.

William Patton, 25, told police he was driving at 80-miles per hour and, “off my f***ing face” with drugs after losing control of his Volkswagen Golf, hitting a bollard, smashing through a wall, bush and the front window of the house in Rosemount Road, South Church, Bishop Auckland.

Durham Crown Court heard that Patton believed he may have fallen unconscious prior to the potentially catastrophic collision, at 9.20pm, on March 8.

But, having been helped from the car by neighbours, he fled, and was later arrested at his home in Freville Terrace, Shildon.

The court heard tenants Marcia and Anthony Smith were watching television in their living room at the time and were showered with shattered glass. They were badly shaken, but relieved it took place when it did.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Smith said their children, aged six and one, kept most of their toys in the bay window recess.

“The kids’ toys are under the window and they play in there a lot. Had it been any earlier, my kids would have been injured.”

His wife, who read her statement to the court, said 70-per cent of the toys had to be thrown out, due to glass damage.

She said the living room was a “no go” area for the family for 16 weeks while rebuilding work took place, with an estimated repair bill of £3,212.

Patton admitted dangerous driving, while unfit through drugs, driving without a licence, plus failing to stop after, and report an accident.

The court heard he has previous motoring offences on a record including 11 convictions for 29 offences.

Jonathan Harley, mitigating, said having not misused drugs for five months, Patton lapsed, taking a concoction of substances, following a row with his partner.

Although he recalled getting into the car, Mr Harley said Patton described what followed as, “a blank patch”.

He added that Patton also struggles with mental health issues, for which he receives support in the community.

Imposing a 17-month prison sentence, Judge Jonathan Carroll said in his condition, Patton, “should have been nowhere near a motor vehicle that night”.

He was also banned from driving for two-and-a-half years