Delivery driver crashed van into parent's cars after family dispute

Kamaljit Purewal, of Borneo Street, Walsall had demanded to be let into the home of his parents in Honeysuckle Drive, Delves, Walsall on May 24.

Wolverhampton Crown Court was told that Purewal, a delivery driver by trade, had picked up his brother-in-law earlier in the day to carry out work in London.

But after dropping him back off, he returned 30 minutes later appearing to be drunk.

He then carried out acts of criminal damage including to a neighbour's car.

Mr Alex Warren, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant left and returned about half-an-hour later. He appeared to be drunk and parked his car on the drive.

"Already on the drive was his parents' Honda CRV and Land Rover Discovery. He spoke initially to his brother-in-law but wanted to speak to his mother who told him to go away."

Mr Warren told the court that 41-year-old Purewal began shouting outside and banged on the window so hard it smashed. He then threw a wheelie bin at his parents' cars.

The prosecutor continued: "He said he was going to crash into their cars and got into his van. He reversed in a reckless manner crashing into a neighbour's Volkswagen Bora. He then drove at his parents' cars and crashed into them."

The police were called and Purewal was taken to hospital having suffered injuries to his arm while smashing the window.

While at hospital he refused to give a blood sample and would not comment to police when interviewed.

Mr Mukhtar Ubhi, defending, said Purewal was going through a difficult period in his life and had turned to alcohol.

He said: "He's an educated man who left school with numerous GCSEs, A-Levels and has a university education. He was a software engineer and had been a Year 10 tutor. Despite not finding work in what in studied he still kept going and got a job as delivery driver.

"He was going through a divorce and he didn't feel he had the support from those who were closest to him."

Purewal pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage and a further charge of failing to provide a specimen.

The court was told he had been banned from driving in 2012 for drink driving.

Recorder Mr Stephen Thomas described the case as 'nasty' and 'serious'.

He sentenced Purewal to four months in jail but suspended it for 12 months, putting him under supervision and ordering him to do 100 hours of unpaid work.

Purewal was also banned from the road for three years and told to pay £500 in compensation to his parents' neighbour.