A man who demolished the front of his ex-girlfriend's home with his car has been spared a jail sentence after the woman appealed for leniency.

Karen Smith met James Hillis, 45, of Moorbank, Blackbird Leys, at the Blackbird Pub and told him they would not be getting back together.

Hillis told her: "You better get out of Blackbird Leys," and she left the pub to walk home.

Julie Hopkins, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday, that Hillis, who was more than twice the drink-drive limit, followed her.

He eventually pulled up beside her and demanded she get into the passenger side of his car.

When she refused and went into her home in Knights Road, he drove his car at the front of the house. Hillis then reversed out of the rubble, smashing into a parked BMW, and drove at the house again.

Miss Hopkins said: "The value of the damage has been estimated at £9,000. The front wall of the property was demolished."

Peter Fortune, defending, told the court Ms Smith did not want Hillis to go to prison and had asked for a reconciliation.

He said Hillis suffered from depression and a drink problem, triggered by the death of his mother and being made redundant last year.

Hillis admitted criminal damage, and drink driving on January 13 this year.

He denied common assault, and the charge was ordered to lie on file.

Hillis has a number of convictions and was jailed for three years in 1994 for aiding and abetting during a serious assault.

Judge Tom Corrie said he was prepared to spare him jail on condition he attend anti-violence counselling and obtained therapy for alcoholism.

He sentenced him to two years' probation, banned him from driving for two and a half years, and ordered him to pay £450 prosecution costs.