A drunk Sunderland driver caused a multi-car crash whilst more than three times over the drink-drive limit.
Cable technician, Kevin Wardle was behind the wheel of a company van on March 24 when he ploughed into the back of a driver who then hit the car in front. The crash happened at around 8.40am as the 57-year-old was driving home to Sunderland from CBL Cable Contractors Ltd, in Hartlepool.
Wardle appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court this week and the court heard he had only managed to travel one mile before the smash.
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Teesside Live reports that magistrates were told that prior to the incident Wardle had completed his last night shift installing cables in London and that he had been drinking and was with two colleagues who were driving him home from the capital.
His barrister Andrew McGee said Wardle became "confused" when the pair stopped off at the depot in Hartlepool to drop of their time sheets. He said: "He was confused as to where they had gone and why they had left him as the agreement was they would drive him home to Sunderland. He then made the stupid decision to get behind the wheel and he decided to drive the work van home.
"He got probably a mile away from the industrial estate before he went into the rear end of the car in front."
Prosecutor Lynne Dalton said shortly after the incident police were called and the defendant was arrested. A breath test showed Wardle had 130 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit of 35.
In mitigation, the court heard the worker was sacked from CBL as a result of his actions and since the incident has not touched alcohol. The defendant - who has one conviction which dates back to 2001 - pleaded guilty to drink driving and the case was adjourned for a probation report.
Wardle, of Ravensworth Street, Millfield, Sunderland, will appear for sentence at the same court on May 5. He was granted unconditional bail and was handed an interim driving ban.
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