A MAN who caused carnage as he drove along the A36 crashing into five cars in the space of a few minutes has been jailed for six months.

Stephen Hawkins, described as a "one man disaster area" by the judge, only stopped when his black BMW hit an electricity pole, rolled onto its side and left him trapped, having to be cut free by firefighters.

The 48-year-old pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on March 4 between Salisbury and Landford.

In sentencing him today at Salisbury Crown Court, Judge Andrew Barnett said it was "a mercy no-one was killed in the carnage".

Prosecuting, Dawn Hyland said the trail of destruction occurred as Hawkins was travelling in the direction of Southampton. He failed to stop after each collision.

The first crash occurred at 6.31pm near the A27 junction when Hawkins hit a Peugeot 406 in front of him that was turning left into a private driveway. The car was written off and the driver suffered seat-belt bruising and powder burns from airbags being deployed.

A couple of minutes later, he hit a Land Rover Freelander coming in the opposite direction. The driver, who described seeing him swerving all over the road before crossing into her lane, said she tried to take avoiding action but was unable to avoid a collision.

Then, at 6.35pm, he again crossed into a lane of oncoming traffic near the Wyevale Garden Centre, hitting an oncoming Honda Jazz and causing it to spin 180 degrees, before colliding with another BMW.

While a Vauxhall Astra travelling behind the BMW was able to take avoiding action, it was struck by flying debris. The driver of the Honda was treated for dizzy spells, shoulder pain and temporary hearing loss.

Finally, at 6.42pm, Hawkins drove into the back of a Peugeot 207 at Partridge Hill, Landford, as it was travelling towards Southampton.

The carnage only ended when Hawkins crashed into an electricity pole, having to be freed by firefighters who cut away the car roof.

Police attending the scene said they could smell alcohol on his breath and noted his speech was slurred as he became obstructive with emergency crews.

Hawkins, from Hertfordshire, was taken to Southampton hospital and treated for minor injuries. He was reported for failing to supply a specimen for a drugs and alcohol test.

Defending, Adam Williams said Hawkins, who acted as a full time carer for his dad, was remorseful for his actions.

He added that his client had since been been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress and amnesia and could not remember the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Sentencing him, Judge Barnett said: "In simple terms, you became a one-man disaster area.

"Some of the collisions were near head-on and you were extremely fortunate in my judgement not to have caused serious injury or even death.

"The matters are made somewhat worse by your previous convictions - driving with excess alcohol in 2010 and failing to provide a specimen in 2013, as indeed you did again on this occasion.

"At 48 years old, you really ought to know far better."

The judge also disqualified Hawkins of Forge End, St Albans, from driving for four years.