A MOTORIST who tried to kill himself by deliberately driving into a string of vehicles, including a bus, has been released on bail by a judge.

Daniel Ford was out of his head on a cocktail of drink and drugs when he set off on the suicide mission in an 11-year-old Vauxhall Astra.

The 30-year-old intentionally ploughed into two other cars and the bus on the B3097 between The Ham and Phillips Way in Westbury last Halloween.

Now the motorist, who says he can remember anything of the journey, has been banned from the road while he is awaiting sentence.

Ford, of Boreham Field, Warminster, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

He also admitted three counts of failing to stop following an accident and one of driving with excess alcohol.

Although the probation service had compiled a presentence report, the case was adjourned so a psychiatric report can be prepared.

And Ford, who has previous for drink driving, was warned that he could still be facing a jail term for what he has done.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told the court how the incident took place on Friday, October 31.

"This gentleman took a cocktail of drink and drugs and went out with the intention of killing himself by driving directly at three vehicles, one of which was a bus," she said.

"Damage was caused to all vehicles including one of the drivers who had neck and lower back pain."

Tony Bignall, defending, said: "The first thing that strikes one is how certain members of the public weren't more seriously injured.

"Talking of the defendant: not only does he not remember, he recalls taking a cocktail of drink and drugs. Not that much drink as he was one-and-a-half times the limit.

"He was taking medication he had been prescribed and he took sufficient dosage to kill himself. What happened to him thereafter he does not know."

Recorder Don Tait said: "It is by fortune other people were not more seriously injured or killed as a result of the mental state this man was in.

"It is certainly a concerning case. If I were not to make any further inquiries and were to pass a sentence on him and he went out and killed someone, one can imagine the uproar."

He adjourned the case to Friday, July 24, and released him on bail with an interim driving ban.

He said: "It won't be me who deals with you so there are no promises about how you will be dealt with."