A PENSIONER who woke to find a drink-driver had smashed a car through the garden into his house today told of his "horrendous" ordeal.

Stunned James Longden, 77, opened his eyes to a £2,000 trail of carnage after a soldier went on a "macho" late night danger drive through Strensall.

Army medic Christopher Richard Gibson and his 16-year-old friend careered through Mr Longden's wall - before reversing into a parked car and fleeing.

But the pair were snared because the soldier's Corsa was leaking motor fluid. Officers followed the trail to Gibson's house and arrested the culprits.

Gibson, 21, and the youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, admitted drink-driving.

The soldier - who was double the drink-drive limit - was handed a two-year driving ban by York magistrates.

Speaking after the case, Mr Longden said he and his wife, Charlotte, 78, had just returned from holiday in Scotland when the crash happened. He said it was "amazing" how the runaway vehicle was not stopped in its tracks as it veered across the road, passed a parked car and flew over the pavement into the garden through a narrow, tree-lined gap.

The retired civil servant also said it was lucky nobody was in his front room, when the car ploughed through the wall and sent bricks and plaster flying, in the early hours of April 24.

He said: "It was almost like the car was aimed at my house. How he missed the parked car on the way in, I do not know.

"It was a bit of a horrendous time for us in a way. I was a bit cross at the time, but it does not do you any good."

Repair work on Mr Longden's York Road house has finished, although damage to the lawn is still visible.

In court, Gibson's solicitor Anthony Farrell said the incident was the result of "macho posturing" and someone mocking someone else's driving.

Gibson, 21, a married soldier of Cumbrian Avenue, Strensall, and the youth, from Wakefield, admitted careless driving and failing to stop after an accident in addition to the drink-drive charge.

The 16-year-old also admitted driving without insurance or licence, and Gibson admitted letting the 16-year-old drive without insurance or licence.

The court was told that any punishment greater than a fine could see Gibson booted out of the Army. Magistrates fined him £500 with £40 prosecution costs. The 16-year-old will go before Wakefield Youth Court later this month.

Ann Darwin, prosecuting, said Gibson downed eight pints of lager at a family barbecue on April 23, where the 16-year-old was also drinking. Early on April 24, following a discussion about driving, the 16-year-old got the car keys and sat in Gibson's Corsa.

Gibson got into the front passenger seat and they set off through Strensall.

After the crash, Gibson took over driving and reversed the car out of the garden. A neighbour saw it crash into her parked Polo, causing £600 damage, before the pair drove off.

The court heard Gibson had a "spotless" record.

Updated: 10:22 Monday, June 13, 2005