A motorist who drove while disqualified narrowly escaped a jail sentence after he launched an appeal.

Carl Brassington, 42, of Collingwood Road, Lexden, was told to do 180 hours community service instead of serving the one-month in prison which Colchester magistrates' ordered on December 4.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Friday that Brassington had led a "blameless life" and had driven because of a moment of madness.

Brassington served in the Royal Navy for 22 years and and had never had a criminal record before he was disqualified from driving in May.

The court was told a business that went wrong and relationship break-up had a devastating affect on him and led him to drink-drive.

He was disqualfied from driving for 24 months after admitting the charge.

Three months later he could not get to work and was "tempted" to drive so he would not be late, the court heard.

While on his way he was in collision with a car on London Road and asked to produce his driving documents at Colchester Police Station.

Two days later he went to Colchester Police Station to admit he had been disqualified.

Judge Peter Dedman said: "Until you fell foul of the law with the drink-driving offence you were a man of 42 who had led a blameless life up to then. We have listened carefully to this mitigation and shall allow this appeal."

By Louise Fuller

Reporter's e-mail: louise_fuller@thisisessex.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.