A former high-flying banker who fell on hard times is serving a six-month jail term today after wrecking five cars in a pub car park.

IPSWICH: A former high-flying banker who fell on hard times is serving a six-month jail term today after wrecking five cars in a pub car park.

Peter Stringer, of Willoughby Road, Ipswich, wrote off four vehicles causing damage valued at �11,000 when he crashed into them and another car at the Oyster Reach, Bourne Hill, Wherstead.

Although he fled the scene in his Fiat Stilo, the 57-year-old's vehicle was also subsequently written off.

Stringer admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop and failing to report an accident and driving otherwise in accordance with a licence when he appeared at Ipswich Crown Court.

Patricia Doggett, prosecuting, said the incident occurred around 10.05pm on April 7.

Stringer's reversed his Fiat out of a parking space and into a BMW, which was pushed over a ledge and on to the bonnet of an Audi. The Audi rolled back into another vehicle.

Stringer's Fiat, with his elderly dog inside, then drove into a Honda Civic twice, pushing it into a Honda Jazz, before he fled.

Witnesses told police they were scared and the pub's duty manager said it was as if the Fiat was deliberately crashing into the parked vehicles, the court heard. People also described Stringer as being very drunk.

He was arrested nine days later and claimed he had consumed one pint and had a meal. Stringer said he left the accident scene because he was concerned about his dog and he didn't realise he had hit other vehicles.

Stringer blamed the crashes on a possible mechanical problem with his car or the fact that he was wearing wide shoes which may have touched the accelerator instead of the brake.

The court heard Stringer has previous convictions for drink-driving in 1996 and failing to provide a specimen for analysis in 1998.

Mitigating, Diane Infanti said her client had huge financial problems which began when the bank he worked for collapsed in 2003 and put him out of work.

After that Stringer could not find a job, his marriage and business ventures failed, and his debts mounted.

A new relationship with his partner in Hampshire was also in difficulty at the time of his offences.

During the good times Stringer had owned a farm in Hadleigh, which was also a successful equestrian centre, and travelled all over the world with his job.