A drink driver reversed from a driveway and into the car of a bystander while almost three times the legal limit, a court has heard.

Robert Cassidy said he was on the way to pick up his partner from work after drinking a number of cans of beer at his home in Stretford.

The 62-year-old reversed from the driveway outside his home on Barton Road in a Honda Civic and into the car of a bystander.

At Bolton Crown Court this week, prosecutor Tara Riley told Judge Nicholas Clarke KC about what went on in the aftermath of the incident.

Ms Riley said: "The police were contacted by a member of the public who was concerned about a driver believed to be under the influence. The driver reversed from a driveway and into his vehicle. 

"The vehicle didn't stop and it continued to drive in a way the member of the public described as erratic."

Cassidy was arrested when he returned to the scene. At Swinton Police Station he returned a result of around 100 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, almost three times the legal limit.

Unrepresented, he told Judge Clarke he was on the way to pick up his partner from work as a carer.

He said: "I said 'I can't pick you up I have had a few cans of beer'. But I decided to go pick her up anyway.

"I made a stupid mistake and I put lives at risk," he added, an assessment with which Judge Clarke agreed.

The offence was a breach of a suspended sentence given to Cassidy for Section 20 assault. This suspended sentence, 12 months suspended for 24 months, comes to an end next week.

Judge Clarke said it would be unreasonable to impose all or any of these 12 months in light of the end of the suspended sentence and the fact this offence was not another act of violence.

Judge Clarke said: "You were told if you committed another offence you might have to serve the sentence. In fairness to you, you haven't committed another act of violence. 

"I won't send you to prison but what I am going to do is make you do more unpaid work in the community."

Cassidy was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 20 days of rehabilitation activities and 100 hours of unpaid work. 

He was banned from the roads for two years and four months. 

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.