Watch CCTV footage of a drunk driver crashing into a South Tyneside family home on Boxing Day

Adrian Dediu, 30, misjudged the road layout while driving at excessive speed and over the limit at night in Holmes Drive, Hebburn, a court heard.

The Romanian national first struck trees and shock CCTV footage from a neighbouring property captured the moment of collision with the property.

Restaurant worker Dediu and his two passengers are believed to have escaped unhurt from the 11.15pm Boxing Day horror crash.

But the homeowners, whose sons aged 10 and three were upstairs, say they no longer feel safe in their now repaired home.

Dediu, of Ravensworth Road, Dunston, Gateshead, is starting 12 months behind bars after pleading guilty to drink driving and driving dangerously.

Prosecutor Gurjot Kaur said: “The man and his wife were at home with their children, and the children went to bed at 10.30pm.

“They then went to bed at 11.05pm, and at 11.15pm the man heard an extremely loud bang.

“He went down to the living room to be shocked to find a car in his living room.

“A son’s bedroom is directly above the living room. His priority was to collect his children and take them across the road to a neighbour.

“Police describe a number of trees being hit. In interview, the defendant said music in the car was loud and he was taking his friends home.

“He said he had had a little bit to drink, which is reflected in the drink-drive charge.”

Ms Kaur added: “The defendant said he was not familiar with the area and had lost control.

“He said he may have been driving very fast and was sorry for everything he had done.

“I would submit this was a deliberate disregard for the safety of others.

“There’s clearly evidence of excessive speed to have mounted the curb and gone straight into the house.”

Joanne Gatens, defending, told magistrates in South Tyneside: “I submit it’s not prolonged bad driving involving disregard for others.

“Whilst it’s excessive speed, it’s not a disqualified driver, and he was not being pursued by police.

“He accepts that he was driving too fast for the road and the weather conditions. He’s not familiar with the road or the area.

“When you travel down that road, it appears that you can drive all the way into the estate.

“He hadn’t anticipated the roundabout as he thought it was a straight road which has caused him to go over into the house.

“It’s fortunate that nobody was injured, he very much accepts and acknowledges that. He is remorseful.”

A breath test revealed 42mcg of alcohol in breath, against a legal limit of 35mcg.

Dediu, who has one previous conviction, was also banned from driving for 30 months, with the requirement of an extended test.

He must pay a £154 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

Kay Gilbert, chair of the bench, told him: “Immediate custody is the only appropriate punishment.

“There was significant damage to the property and children were in the house. You drove at speed with passengers. You had alcohol in your system.

“We can’t tolerate drivers of this standard on our roads or the impact this has caused.”

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