A MAN downed beer and vodka and then crashed his van after being told his girlfriend had cheated on him.

After Paul Gregory was told that his partner was having an affair, he got behind the wheel of his silver Astra van, which struck Jack Neverwood's stationary car on Russell Place, Portswood, in Southampton.

When Mr Neverwood went to the van, he described seeing a "man who smelled strongly of alcohol" and grabbed the keys from Gregory.

In an attempt to get them back, prosecutor Sital Mond told Southampton Magistrates' Court the 40-year-old "grabbed Mr Neverwood's hand", "bending it and causing the victim to get blood under his fingernails".

Mr Neverwood called officers at around 10pm on November 30, and when tested Gregory, a self-employed painter and decorator, was found to be three times the limit.

Tests revealed he had 241mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Ms Mond said: "When Gregory tried to get the keys from the victim, it hurt his little finger as he bent it back. Mr Neverwood had the phone in one hand while he was calling the police and in the end gave the keys over as it hurt."

She added that Mr Neverwood's vehicle sustained damage to its wheel arch as a result of the collision.

In a pre-sentence report compiled by the probation service, Gregory admitted drinking beer and vodka after finding out his first real girlfriend, who he had spent just over a year with, had been unfaithful.

It also found he had decided to drink at the Mitre pub, on Portswood Road, to help him "calm him down and "ease" the pain.

Brian McMonnies, mitigating, said it left Gregory's "world crumbling" but insisted his actions were "completely irrational".

He added that Gregory was remorseful and apologetic for his actions.

Gregory, of Bluebell Road, Southampton pleaded guilty to driving while over the drink-drive limit and assault.

He was given a 12-month community order, which includes the requirement to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for 25 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.