A dinner party ended in disaster for young mum Lisa Lea when her host smashed up her brand new soft-top car with a mechanical digger.

The teacher looked on in horror as her pride and joy, a £13,500 limited edition VW Golf Cabriolet, was written off in a drunken rage by Charles Lister at Ryleys Farm in Grittleton.

Lister was given an 18-month probation order and ordered to pay £775.16 in compensation for smashing up the car, when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court last week.

Mrs Lea had gone to visit old school friend Sarah Lister at Ryleys Farmhouse on August 19 when the incident took place.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told the court Mrs Lea arrived at the Lister family home in her car and they popped out to the pub, returning at about 9pm.

At that point, father-of-two Lister, 37, appeared to be sober but when the women got back he started drinking wine and continued through the meal.

Lister, the managing director of building firm CLBC, which is based at the farmhouse, continued drinking heavily during and after supper, and his demeanour changed as he consumed more alcohol, said Mr Meeke.

He told the court that a Bulgarian man was also staying the night with the Listers and there was a discussion about how he was going to get to the airport the following day.

Mr Meeke said Lister then flipped and started kicking the walls, putting his foot through a cupboard door.

His wife tried to calm him and he stormed into the kitchen and the guests could hear the smashing of crockery.

Lister returned to the living room where he picked up the television and smashed it on the floor before ordering Mrs Lea to leave. "She was quite willing to go but had no idea what she had done to upset him," said Mr Meeke.

Mrs Lea went upstairs to get her child and bags and as she was coming down heard what she thought was a tractor outside.

"She went outside to see him approaching her car with a mini-digger," said Mr Meeke. "He brought the arm of the mini-digger down on to the roof of the car.

"Everyone was asking him to stop. She ran up to him to try to stop him and he swung the arm towards her and she got out of the way. She realised it was dangerous.

"He then brought the arm back down on the roof. By this time the police were on their way, called by his wife.

"The defendant then dragged the car out of its parking space out on to the main driveway. The car was a complete write off."

When the police arrived at about 1am Lister was still on board the digger and officers only arrested him after managing to cut off the fuel supply.

He told police that he was upset by Mrs Lea's attitude towards his other guest. He said he was stressed and this was his way of de-stressing.

At an earlier hearing, Lister pleaded guilty to criminal damage and was committed to the crown court for sentence because of the extent of the damage to the car.

Marcus Davey, defending, said: "Mr Lister's behaviour was utterly deplorable and inexcusable."

He said that Lister's marriage was going through a hard time and his building business was struggling.

Lister, he said, suffered depression and had re-mortgaged his house for £250,000 to prop up his business.

Mr Davey said since the offence Lister had tried to cut down his drinking and attended anger management classes.

He had also swapped his role as managing director with his wife leaving him at home with the children, aged four and five.

Mr Davey said that his client had repaid the insurance company for the cost of the car and was prepared to compensate Mrs Lea for her losses.

Sentencing him, Recorder Daniel Pearce-Higgins QC said: "There you were drunk, completely out of control driving this digger like a maniac, terrifying those who were there.

"What you have done would in many circumstances merit a period of immediate custody, but you have showed real remorse and a desire to change."

The Lister family home is now on the market but neighbour Richard Potter said he was very surprised when he heard about the drama. "I like the man," he said. "I like the family. I can't get over what happened."