AN ANDOVER man who drove his 26-year-old Rolls Royce into a busy supermarket has been jailed for 16 months and warned he was lucky not to be facing more serious charges with a longer sentence.

Robert Malcolm Caton, aged 50 of Cusden Drive, Andover, pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving and to failing to provide a specimen of blood or urine at an earlier hearing.

On Friday Winchester Crown Court heard that Caton, who is unemployed, had consumed whisky on 20 May after having a run-in with staff at the River Way store about a bed he had bought but had arrived without a mattress.

During the hearing Judge Keith Cutler saw CCTV footage, which showed Caton arriving at the store, driving into the wall then bursting into the area nearest the checkouts.

Even though Caton had issued an advance warning to a security guard several women were either injured or shocked, with one woman, Tina Smith, detained in hospital overnight with abdominal pains.

Defence counsel Peter Asteris told the court that Caton had a mental condition known as bi-polar but medication used to treat it had been reduced after he needed heart surgery in 2007 – leading to depression.

Mr Asteris read a statement from Caton: “I would like to say anybody breaks if the stress is enough. I broke. I gladly offer my sincere apologies to all affected by my reckless and irresponsible behaviour.''

“He is ashamed of what he has done,” said the defence counsel.

“He needs help as much as he needs punishment.”

Judge Cutler revealed the maximum penalty he was allowed to impose was only two years with a third reduction for an early guilty plea.

“If every time someone felt aggravation took it upon themselves to drive into the window of a shop there would be complete mayhem,” said Judge Cutler.

“Frustration is no defence and no mitigation at all for what you did that afternoon.

“The list of witnesses feature injured people who may never shop happily again.

“I come to the conclusion that you are in my view lucky that you are not facing more serious charges.

“My hands are tied by the requirements of the Sentencing Guidelines Council and I am compelled to give you a one third discount and the maximum sentence is 16 months.”

He banned Caton from driving for five years and ordered the forfeiture of the Rolls Royce.

Tescos revealed that the incident had cost them £21,000 in damage and lost stock and £41,000 in lost turnover which Tesco could seek through the civil courts.