A Great Yarmouth man tried to kill himself by crashing into a fuel tanker and then a mobile phone cabin, a court heard.

Horacio Da Silva, 42, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to dangerous driving and was jailed for eight months, suspended for two years, at Norwich Crown Court today.

Robert Warner, prosecuting, said Da Silva, from Cunningham Avenue, was seen driving at speed in South Denes Road in the town at about 5.15pm on March 28.

Mr Warner said: 'He was travelling at about 60mph in a 30mph limit. His Toyota Avensis collided with a diesel fuel tanker and then with a mobile phone cabin. Damage was caused to the front of his vehicle but his injuries were minor. Police attended and he was taken to Gorleston's James Paget Hospital for a check-up and a mental health assessment.'

He was arrested and said in interview that his driving was an attempt to take his own life.

Mr Warner added: 'He said that he had been to the matrimonial home and was upset at what happened. He heard one of his children call to him, and he lost it. He had the idea to kill himself.'

Jonathan Morgans, for Da Silva, said his client had been of good character until earlier this year.

He said: 'But a series of events in March led him to the point of despair. His motivation was to kill himself.'

Recorder Guy Ayers told Da Silva that it was a serious example of dangerous driving and that other people might have been injured.

Da Silva was also ordered to do 160 hours' unpaid work, and banned from driving for 12 months.