A drunk motorist who ploughed into a car in a ‘suicide mission’ has escaped jail.
Patrick John Cahill, 39, was intoxicated and at a “really low ebb” when he attempted to end his life by deliberately crashing his Vauxhall Insignia into a car on County Road.
The female driver of the other vehicle was travelling to a Halloween party with her mother and two friends on October 30 last year – and all escaped with only minor injuries.
Cahill was arrested at the scene and gave a breath test reading of 85mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – more than double the drink-drive limit of 35.
Whilst uninjured, the innocent driver was unable to get behind the wheel for several weeks, Swindon Crown Court heard.
In a statement read out by prosecutor Alec Small, she said: “I felt like a sitting duck, I was shouting as the car was coming towards me, knowing the impact was unavoidable.”
Cahill, of Swindon, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving.
Matthew Harbinson, mitigating, said his client suffered “some form of psychological distress” while serving in the armed forces in Ireland.
“He was isolated from his family, his children at home. He hasn’t seen them for over two years,” he added.
Judge Jason Taylor QC said that it was “solely a matter of good fortune” that there were only minor injuries.
He handed down a 15-month jail sentence suspended for two years and a 30-month driving ban.
