A TEENAGE soldier has been jailed after admitting driving a tractor, monster truck-style, over two cars.

A TEENAGE soldier has been jailed after admitting driving a tractor, monster truck-style, over two cars.

In sentencing Adam Row from Hollesley to 90 days in a young offenders' institute, district judge David Cooper assured him it wouldn't be as “difficult” as his time in the army.

The 19-year-old, who used to serve in the Paras, is set to spend at least six weeks in prison after he pleaded guilty to fraud, driving without due care and attention, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.

South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court heard yesterday how Row had been working as a tractor driver for three days when the accident happened. As he made a turn on the Snape roundabout in Tunstall at about 7.15am on June 20, the front of the tractor started to bounce and became unstable before it collided with a red Volkswagen Polo, a house, a blue Fiat Punto and a listed wall.

A dramatic photograph was taken of the scene at the time by Adrian Smith, the boyfriend of Kim Rogers, 20, from Parham, who owned the Fiat Punto. She was left in shock after waking up to find her car upended on its bonnet.

It was heard how Row had been disqualified for driving for a year just a month before this incident but he pretended to his new employer that he still had a licence.

Judge Cooper said: “You do not have any regard for court orders. You deliberately hung onto your licence.

“What you did was catastrophic. You demolished these guys' holiday cottage and they have been deprived of £2,000 in income.

“I do not think I have ever seen an accident quite like this.”

Representing himself, Row, replied: “That is why I have got another job because I'm prepared to pay compensation. The insurance company have said they will pay for the cars, wall and house.”

He added that the probation service told him he could get help for his “irrational thinking”.

Row's father died in January and his mother was struck down with multiple sclerosis. The court heard how he had concerns for his mother who was due to have an operation today however Judge Cooper said he had no other choice but to sentence him to 90 days, serving only half. He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Judge Cooper said: “It was a serious offence. A custody sentence is inevitable. It was a deliberate and planned defiance of a court order. You haven't shown any degree of remorse.

“In just six weeks, it will be all over and done with. After being in the army, you won't find this at all difficult, believe me.”