A Nissan worker was still more than three times over the drink drive limit two hours after crashing his car.
Andrew Milburn was behind the wheel of his Nissan Qashqai when he smashed into some traffic lights at the Seaton Burn Roundabout, in Seaton Burn. The 37-year-old was taken to hospital by paramedics and not breathalysed by police until when he was discharged two hours after the collision, a court heard.
However, Milburn was still more than three times over the legal limit, giving a reading of 110mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is just 35mcg.
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The dad-of-two, of Big Waters Close, in Brunswick, Newcastle, has now been banned from the roads for 28 months after he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before North Tyneside Magistrates' Court. He was also fined £750 and must pay a £300 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
Leslie Burgess, prosecuting, said Milburn crashed into traffic lights at the roundabout on September 11 this year. Paramedics attended and he was taken to hospital. Ms Burgess added: "He was discharged and taken to a police station, where his reading was still 110mcg, even though it was two hours after the crash."
The court was told that Milburn had started drinking strong cider at home early on the afternoon of the day in question when his girlfriend rang and it was arranged he would drive to meet her. Stephen Moore, defending, added: "His finances were difficult, causing anxiety. He had struggled with the breakdown of the relationship with the mother of his children three years earlier and had been having difficulties accessing his children."
Sentencing Milburn, District Judge Kate Meek said: "You were way over the limit here and, ordinarily, I would impose a community order. I'm not going to as I don't think it's workable. You are addressing your issues.
"None of this is letting you off or being lenient. I have no wish to put anybody out of work and, because of your shifts, if I imposed a curfew, that would happen. I would want to impose some unpaid work but that's almost entirely unworkable, given your working hours and childcare commitments."
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