A DRUG-CRAZED driver who caused more than £33,000 damage after smashing into a dozen vehicles during an evening of "carnage" in Poole has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

Tadd Sutton, aged 22, was convicted at Bournemouth Crown Court for a string of motoring offences including aggravated vehicle taking, driving without a licence, failure to stop, and driving under the influence of a controlled drug - namely MDMA, or Ecstasy.

Sutton, who even rammed a police car during the wrecking spree last summer was also banned from driving for five years.

Describing the incident as "an example of the very worst kind of aggravated vehicle taking," Judge Recorder Stead told Sutton: "You put in jeopardy a number of people that night - the word carnage has been used, that is not an understatement."

Earlier during Friday's sentencing hearing, the court heard how Sutton - who had ten previous convictions for offences including battery, possession of a knife, burglary and drug possession - caused £33,697 damage during the night in question.

The drama unfolded around 8.30pm at Alum Chine car park, August 31, last year.

Sutton, who was attending a beach party had gained access to the keys of a Chrysler 300C car, belonging to someone else, on the proviso of retrieving his jacket.

However, according to prosecutor Sadie Rizzo, Sutton - who had been drinking and had taken a quantity of MDMA - immediately jumped behind the wheel and attempted to drive out of the car park.

After hitting a Ford Focus, leaving the driver with whiplash injuries, he ploughed into two more parked cars, said Ms Rizzo.

"Then he left the car park at speed and in a reckless manner," she added.

Shortly afterwards, while hurtling along Poole Road near the County Gates gyratory with no lights on, he smashed into the rear of a Mazda car, which catapulted it into two other vehicles.

When motorist Joseph Baggley, who was driving behind Sutton, got out to help, Sutton rammed into his BMW. Then, as Mr Baggley attempted to stop him driving away, Sutton rammed his BMW a second time, the court heard.

Sutton collided with a number of other vehicles on his way to Ashley Cross, where he sped through red lights, forced one car off the road and attempted to ram into a van, the court heard.

Ms Rizzo said: "He narrowly avoided collisions with members of the public. Police described it as a scene of carnage."

After a brief police chase, which involved Sutton ramming a police car, he was eventually stopped and arrested on Holes Bay Road.

Sutton, of Ardmore Road, Poole, who pleaded guilty to the motoring offences initially told police he had no recollection of events.

He was not above the legal alcohol limit to drive but had 1,135 micrograms of MDNA in his bloodstream, an amount described as "grossly excessive" by Judge Stead.

Defending, Kevin Hill said: "He (Sutton) took the car and clearly drove it appallingly.

"He is ashamed he put others at risk - he says it was a blessing no-one had been hurt."

DURING the Bournemouth Crown Court hearing excerpts from statements made by a number of Sutton's victims were heard.

Marie McDevitt, whose BMW car was one of the four vehicles damaged on Poole Road, said since the accident she'd been unable to get into a car to drive anywhere by herself.

Meanwhile, Natalie Old - whose Mazda car was also rammed by Sutton on Poole Road - said: "Now I'm a nervous wreck when I'm behind the wheel." She also said it took her a month before she was able to drive following the incident.

Joseph Baggley, driver of the second BMW involved in the Poole Road collisions, said: "I love driving, I love my cars, and I feel I've lost that connection now."

Sadie Rizzo, prosecuting, said: "Mr Baggley is very angry someone has done this to him - smashed his car to pieces twice in the middle of the road."