A DIABETIC driver who smashed into 11 vehicles before overturning his own pick-up truck has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Anthony Barlow was on his way to a family party, with his partner and daughters, aged five and six, in fancy dress in his truck when he embarked on his drive of destruction around the streets of Horwich on August 29, 2013.

Barlow was spoken to by police after they initially thought he had only damaged a neighbour's car and driven across two gardens.

But just moments after speaking with him officers spotted Barlow back behind the wheel of his Mitsubishi four-wheeled drive vehicle.

He did not stop, smashing into parked cars, driving on pavements and the wrong side of the road.

The journey came to an when he hit a parked Mercedes, sending it ricocheting into a Citroen Picasso and a £42,000 BMW, which was written off.

The impact resulted in the Mitsubishi overturning, with Barlow and his children being pulled from the wreckage by members of the public.

Even then police had to subdue him with CS gas spray and he subsequently threw hot chocolate around his police cell and smeared it with excrement.

Barlow, aged 47, of Berne Avenue, Horwich, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and criminal damage.

David Morton, defending, told the court that Barlow's offending stemmed from his diabetes, which he had not managed properly, and his "utterly bizarre" behaviour was the result of low blood sugar.

This had left him unable to think or act reasonably.

"There was a lack of appreciation for the vigilance required in managing his diabetes. There was no intention to cause damage or harm," said Mr Morton.

He added that the pick up truck had been Barlow's pride and joy and he has not driven since.

"He has no intention of exposing anyone to such dangers again," he said.

Sentencing Barlow to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, Judge Peter Davies told him: "This was a disgraceful piece of driving."

However, he accepted that the hypoglycemic attack had caught Barlow unawares so that he was not thinking properly and did not deliberately drive dangerously.

Barlow will also be electronically tagged and subject to a 7pm to 7am curfew until September 6.

He was banned from holding a driving licence for 12 months and must pass a retest before he can drive again.