A Gulf War veteran went on the attack when his girlfriend went into labour.
Gareth John smashed a car park barrier as he tried to get out of a city centre car park to make the 25 mile mercy dash down to the hospital.
The military engineer was caught on CCTV causing £2,098.07p damage to the car park exit barrier at the Princesshay shopping centre in Exeter, Devon, where he had been Christmas shopping.
Prosecutor Sonia Croft said John, 30, of Elm Grove Road, Dawlish, Devon, was seen walking past a ticket machine and made no attempt to pay.
He was then seen pushing the barrier after a paramedic pal told him that there was a quick release mechanism which they used in emergencies.
John Smethurst, defending, said John had received a call during his Xmas shopping from his girlfriend to say she had gone into labour with their first child and she was heading to Torbay Hospital in Torquay.
He said the ticket machine 'spat out' his unpaid ticket and he was 'concerned and excited and not thinking properly'.
But the quick release on the barrier did not work and he caused the damage through his recklessness, he said.
Exeter magistrates heard John is on benefits after suffering from PTSD as a result of his service with REME in the Gulf War.
John told the court:"It was very stupid."
The JPs ordered him to pay all the compensation to the council on top of £730 motoring fines and it will take him 12 years to pay it all off at the current £5 a week.
