A drink driver smashed into three parked cars on his way to pick up a friend.
Alexander Boyle was unsteady on his feet, muttering to himself and slurring his words when police attended the scene of the accident, in Heaton, Newcastle, in the early hours of the morning. The 30-year-old immediately told officers "I'm sorry, it's my car, I lost control of it", a court heard.
Boyle, of Whitefield Terrace, in Heaton, was arrested and later gave a reading of 84mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is just 35. He subsequently appeared in the dock to plead guilty to one count of driving with excess alcohol.
Keith Laidlaw, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said police were called to reports that a white Skoda had crashed into parked cars on Addycombe Terrace at around 1.30am on February 21 this year. They attended the area and found Boyle's vehicle stationary in the middle of the road.
Mr Laidlaw continued: "The vehicle had damage to the nearside and front. The defendant was sat in the driver's seat with the lights still on when officers approached the vehicle. The defendant gets out the car.
"The officers noticed the defendant was unsteady on his feet and was muttering to himself and slurring his words. The officers were concerned the defendant was going to drive away so they took hold of him and spoke to him. The defendant was holding the car keys."
The court heard that Boyle was arrested after confessing to losing control of his vehicle and crashing into the parked cars and he later failed the breath test.
Sophie Allinson, defending, said Boyle had pleaded guilty and was remorseful. She added: "He had been out for the night, gone home and fallen asleep. He then got a phone call from a friend who had drank alcohol to excess and was in a bad state.
"He recognised the street he was on was close to where the defendant resides, so he made the flash decision to get in his car and collect his friend and take him to his. He's bumped into parked cars while doing so."
Boyle was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge. He was also banned from driving for 20 months.
