A man who took his former employer's £50,000 lorry for a night-time spin after packing in his job has been jailed for six months.

Antoni Zaccardelli fled from the Scania lorry after it collided with three cars and a lamp post in Wyke last September, prosecutor Gill Cuthbert told Bradford magistrates.

He was arrested two weeks after the incident and told police he had been drinking during the day and did not know why he had committed the offence.

Mrs Cuthbert added: "He said he lost control and he wished it had never happened.''

The court heard how Zaccardelli left his job as a fork-lift truck driver at Shipley Transport Services in Dealburn Road, Bradford, following a dispute over money.

Two or three days later, he decided to pay a visit to his former employer's firm on his way home after drinking alcohol at a barbecue and took the vehicle for a ride.

Philip Smithies, mitigating, said Zaccardelli took the lorry for a few minutes and wanted to bring it back. But he panicked when he saw an oncoming vehicle as he was looking for a place to turn the lorry around.

He lost control and felt two bumps.

Mr Smithies said: "He had hit a number of stationary cars. He really did panic and fled from the scene.''

Zaccardelli, 22, of St Mary's Gardens, Wyke, Bradford, pleaded guilty to burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving.

He also admitted driving without a licence, having no insurance and failing to stop after an accident. He was banned from driving for two years.

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