A dangerous driving DFDS ferry officer who mowed down tents at a busy campsite – avoiding killing its occupants only "by luck" – has avoided jail.

Jason Holman sparked terror as he rampaged through Kingsdown International Scout Camp centre in Deal, smashing into tents at night.

But the 42-year-old avoided "undoubtedly killing" the owners who were visiting the nearby Zetland Arms pub, as part of their holiday.

Eyewitnesses described watching in horror as DFDS's second mate obliterated pitches in the dark, with his headlights off, as families screamed for him to stop.

And the tent owners Elise Smulova and Kathrin Schoeftenhube told of their horror after returning to learn they had narrowly avoided serious injury or death.

The seafarer, who is largely stationed at the Port of Dover, was handed a suspended sentence at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.

While “smelling of alcohol”, Holman drew other campers’ attention by loudly revving the engine of his Volkswagen Sharan, with the lights off and a canoe on top.

“Horrified” Oliver Sharp told the court Holman suddenly “appeared to do a u-turn” in the dark, destroying the tents.

He hoped “no-one was inside them” before running over and “removing the keys from the ignition”.

Mr Sharp described smelling alcohol on Holman’s breath, whose partner was in the passenger seat, the court heard.

Guest Shelly Ransan filmed the aftermath and captured the moment the extent of Holman's actions “dawned on” him.

Prosecutor Paul Valder explained: “(She) saw staff trying to keep people calm, she filmed some of what was going on, and people were saying ‘do you know you’ve gone over some tents?’

“It’s evident what the defendant had done dawned on him, he can be heard on the video saying he shouldn’t have done it.”

The video was not played in court, however, other eyewitnesses told how Holman appeared intoxicated with alcohol following his trail of destruction. .

One guest told officers in a statement children “shouted at the driver telling him to stop” as he mowed down tents.

They added they had also “formed the opinion Holman had been drinking”.

Another witness claimed in a statement Holman appeared drunk, adding: “Thankfully the tent was unoccupied otherwise the occupants would have been killed.”

Mr Valder said Ms Smulova and Schoeftenhube returned to see their tents destroyed, when “the reality of what may have happened came home to dawn on them”.

Holman was arrested at the campsite, situated off The Avenue, a number of hours after the ordeal at 10pm on September 11 last year.

The defendant, who has two previous convictions for drink-driving, told officers he was over the limit because he drank alcohol post-incident.

Holman said he was sober at the time and unaware of crashing into the tents because he was “in a bit of a rage” following a row with his girlfriend, the court heard.

Judge Simon James told the court Holman had used the “hip-flask” defence. It is where the accused claims they were sober at the time, and then became intoxicated after a driving offence.

Handing down a 12-month sentence suspended for 18 months, he told Holman it was “simply down to luck” he wasn’t facing more serious charges.

“Miraculously nobody was within the tents, had there been they would have undoubtedly been killed or seriously injured.”

The judge added locking Holman up immediately would mean his children would suffer, and he was “just about persuaded” to suspend the sentence.

Kieran Brand, mitigating, said Holman had been “offence free” since the incident and “recognises alcohol is an issue”.

He said Holman describes himself as sober while away at sea two of every four weeks, then “lets loose to excess” while on shore.

He added Holman “would welcome” intervention from the probation service and his partner, who appeared in the public gallery, was also seeking help for a drinking problem.

Holman, of Tower Hamlets Road, Dover, admitted dangerous driving and two counts of criminal damage before trial.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and will only be allowed back on the road following an extended retest.

Holman was ordered to pay compensation for the tents, complete 200 hours of unpaid work and a six-month alcohol treatment programme.

Prosecutors earlier this year offered no evidence on the separate charge of driving while under the influence of excess alcohol.