A MOTORIST has said he will ‘forgive and forget’ a drink driver who crashed into his car in a Barrow street.

Police were called to Ramsden Street in Barrow at 7.10pm on October 23 after Pavelas Gorbik crashed his Ford Focus into a parked Jaguar XF.

The Jag, which belongs to David Carpenter, was damaged down one side.

Gorbik, of Longway, initially pleaded not guilty to failing to take a breathalyser test when suspected of drink-driving.

However, when the 28-year-old appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court on Friday for the trial, he changed his plea to guilty.

The Lithuanian, who represented himself in court, has a previous conviction for driving with an alcohol level over the legal limit from four years ago.

The court heard he also has a conviction for driving without due care and attention.

Gorbik was given a 12-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months.

Magistrates said the offence was so serious it warranted a prison term but after hearing an immediate sentence would cause him to lose his employment, accommodation and impact on the ability to provide support to his child they agreed to suspend the sentence.

He was also told to complete 250 hours of unpaid work, pay £620 costs and a £122 surcharge, and was banned from driving for 36 months.

After the sentencing Mr Carpenter said: "My family could have been getting into the car before he hit it; luckily nothing happened, but let’s move on now and forgive and forget."