A MAN who drove into 12 parked vehicles in Risca in an apparent suicide bid was jailed for 14 months.

Dean Smith drove his employer's van in to the cars with no regard for the safety of his three passengers, Newport crown court heard.

And he caused around £18,000 of damage to the dozen cars he drove into in two streets in Risca.

The court was told Smith, who worked for a window company, took the keys to his employer's van on January 19 this year, even though he was disqualified from driving Then the 25-year-old, of Ty Isaf Park Circle, picked up a friend at around 11.30pm and, as he was driving along Forsythia Close, Smith "appeared to flip".

Prosecutor Matthew Cobb said: "He was looking straight ahead and his arms locked on the steering wheel. He also started to drive directly at vehicles and hit three with his van." Smith then drove to Ty Isaf where friends tried to calm him down. But later three passengers got in the van with him again.

"He adopted a similar driving manner. He hit cars in Ty Isaf Park Avenue and Newport Road in Risca. The final collision caused the van to tip over. All four climbed out and ran away," said Mr Cobb.

Smith, who later gave himself up to the police, told officers he was on medication, depressed, and unable to remember driving into the cars.

Pre-sentencing reports were prepared for the court and Ray Lewis, mitigating, said Smith had a borderline personality disorder.

He also had a history of taking overdoses and attempting suicide, he said. Smith admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and driving dangerously.

Judge David Morris, who described Smith as "a menace", sentenced him to 14 months in prison for dangerous driving, nine months for taking the vehicle and four months for driving while disqualified, all to run concurrently.

He also disqualified Smith from driving for three years. Judge Morris said everyone needed to know that men who took vehicles and drove in such a dangerous manner would "lose their liberty".

He said that in his apparent bid to take his own life, Smith had shown no regard for his passengers' safety.

"It was only by the grace of God that there were no injuries, or worse, to life and limb," he said.