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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
National
Ian Leonard & Paul Britton

Drink-driver ploughed Audi into neighbour's home sending 'sofa flying across room' - and caused £120k-worth of damage

A drink-driver caused £120,000-worth of damage when he crashed his high-powered Audi S7 into a neighbour's home - leaving it collapsing.

Ivan Kluka, 58, was more that four times over the legal drink-drive limit when his £70,000 Audi ploughed into the property, which suffered 'significant structural damage', a court heard. The crash, in Peveril Drive, Hazel Grove, Stockport, destroyed the front porch and left parts of the front wall and windows dangling precariously.

Stockport Magistrates' Court heard how residents on the cul-de-sac heard a car engine revving and a 'loud bang'. Gee Leang, prosecuting, said Kluka's car hit a wall before it reversed and collided with a lamppost.

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One resident, he said, spotted the black Audi reversing towards her and she was forced to grab her pet dog out of the way. The car careered onwards and then crashed into the lounge of house where one of Kluka's neighbours lived, 'sending the sofa flying across the room', magistrates heard.

Kluka, who was arrested at the scene, was found to have 150 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35 micrograms.

The damage caused (MEN)

Police, specialist fire-fighters and Electricity North West were called to the crash shortly after 4.30pm on August 12 this year. And the road had to be shut for several hours as crews made the house safe.

The court heard that that the landlord of the property had to bolster its beams and when the damage was assessed it totalled £120,000.

Speaking at the time, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said the crash caused 'significant structural damage' to the house and firefighters experienced 'very complex rescue scenarios' that involved isolating gas and electricity supplies and shoring up the damaged house to 'prevent further structural collapse while the vehicle was removed'.

Kluka pleaded guilty to charges of drink-driving and dangerous driving when he appeared in the dock. The court heard he was a man of previous good character who worked in engineering and on 'contracts in the Far East'.

But Mr Leang said he'd shown 'deliberate disregard' for the safety of others and the case would need sentencing at a higher court.

Kluka, of Peveril Drive, Hazel Grove, Stockport, was warned his actions had crossed the custody threshold and magistrates sent the case to Minshull Crown Court, in Manchester, for sentencing on October 24. They also handed him an immediate driving ban.

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