A DAD of two who drove at high speed for more than 40 miles after smashing into the back of a lorry has been given a suspended jail sentence.

The passenger side of Michael McCluskey's Vauxhall Vectra was stoved in and the windscreen smashed yet he drove on in a panic, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

The 30-year-old even stopped for the petrol, but drove on eventually being stopped near Droitwich.

His defence barrister Graham Russell said: "He didn't have breakdown cover so he didn't feel able to stop and have the car recovered."

He added he was a relatively young man who utterly panicked, finding himself far from home with no real clue about what to do.

McCluskey, of Mill Lane, Birmingham, admitted dangerous driving on the M5 motorway in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire on May 30 this year.

He also admitted failing to stop after an accident.

Recorder Jeremy Wright sentenced him to 10 months jail suspended for two years and banned him from driving for 18 months. He was ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work and attend a 20 day rehabilitation activity programme.

McCluskey was also ordered to take an extended driving test after his ban - and will have to pay £350 in costs and surcharges.

Prosecutor Tim Hills said McCluskey smashed into the back of a lorry close to Junction 12 northbound near Gloucester.

The lorry was doing 56mph and the driver felt 'something collide with the rear of his trailer,' said Mr Hills.

"Looking in his mirror he then saw Mr McCluskey drive past him and accelerate up the motorway in his badly damaged car.

"The lorry driver pulled onto the hard shoulder. Being conscientious he felt he couldn't drive any further.

"The defendant was seen by members of the public driving off with bits of debris falling from his vehicle all over the carriageway.

"He drove to the Gloucester North Services where he put petrol in the car.

"Officers parked on a bridge over the motorway at Junction 6 saw this vehicle travelling in lane 2 very severely damaged.

"They followed it at speeds between 80-90 mph in lanes 2 and 3 and it reached junction 5 for Droitwich.

"The officers were debating among themselves how to stop it. It then pulled onto the hard shoulder. Officers went to the vehicle and spoke to the defendant. He smelt of alcohol and was given a breath test but was below the limit."

The court heard how McCluskey asked officers if the lorry driver was all right, after admitting he had been in collision with the lorry after losing concentration.

He added he thought it was safe to drive the vehicle in that condition.

Mr Russell told the court McCluskey's best mitigation was his early guilty plea.

"He acknowledges the seriousness of his driving and has contrition."

Recorder Wright asked "Why was he driving so fast?"

Mr Russell replied "At that point he had simply got to the stage where he wanted to get home. He was in a state of panic."

Mr Russell described McCluskey's actions as being foolish and risky, not malicious or sinister.

Gloucestershire's road policing unit officers have previously said it was "unbelievable" McCluskey drove on, describing him as a lucky man, adding if there had been a passenger it would have been a fatal accident.