Driver smashed into Southampton home just 24 hours after ban expired

Sal Chitulu "careered" into the semi detached house at the junction of Oswald Road and Victoria Road in an "almighty smash" causing damage to the kitchen, buckling the garage door and smashing the front steps.

Dramatic CCTV footage shows the grey Vauxhall Zafira shoot straight into the garage door and brick wall in the middle of the night.

A court has now heard that Chitulu was previously banned for drink driving in February 2019, and his ban only ended one day and 45 minutes before he 'ploughed' into the front of a house.

He has now been found guilty of dangerous driving following a trial.

• Motorist 'careered into Southampton house after failing to go round bend'

CCTV of vehicle colliding into the property in Woolston. Photo by: Solent News & Photo Agency.

Southampton Crown Court heard that the 40 year old and his girlfriend Joanna Ross had gone for a meal at Kuti's, where Chitulu was due to DJ later that evening on February 29 last year.

Chitulu, who moved to the UK from Malawi in 1997 and has never had a full UK driving licence, said: "The plan was to go and have a meal, but I also happened to be working that night, DJing in Kuti's. Jo gave me a lift there. I wasn't planning on driving at all that night."

He told the jury that he had two medium glasses of white wine during the meal and DJ set, which finished at about midnight.

But while his girlfriend drove them there, Chitulu drove them home in her car because he said she was feeling ill and had been sick.

When he reached Victoria Road, Chitulu told the court his foot 'slipped' and he crashed into a house just three doors down from where his girlfriend lived.

CCTV of vehicle colliding into the property in Woolston. Photo by: Solent News & Photo Agency.

He said: "As I attempted to brake, I put my foot on the brake pedal and my foot slipped and hit the accelerator.

"I was in shock because the car basically just sped up, it seemed fairly fast but I didn't look at the speedometer.

"It was an unfortunate accident and I'm really sorry for what happened. It is God's grace that nobody was hurt on that night."

He added that he could not react in time and brake because "I froze. I was in shock and I panicked".

Edward Hollingsworth, prosecuting, said: "From the moment police began to speak to you, you have been dishonest about that accident and the cause of it and the extent of your responsibility for it.

"Cars don't plough at 30-odd miles per hour into the side of peoples' houses without something going badly wrong with the driver.

"In this case your driving fell far below the standards of a careful and competent driver."

Chitulu denied one charge of dangerous driving but was found guilty following a trial and is now due to be sentenced next month at Southampton Crown Court.