Drink-driver left scene after crashing car

ADRINK- DRIVER crashed his car leaving it on its side, a court heard.

Adam Joseph Doherty, 28, offered a lift to two women after drinking in a pub with a friend, prosecutors said.

But within minutes of setting off in his mate’s car Doherty lost control and crashed, magistrates were told.

Panicking, Doherty and his friend left, leaving the Ford Fiesta on its side and the women at the scene, prosecutors said.

The pair later returned to the vehicle and were arrested, the court heard.

Doherty, of Redruth Avenue, Macclesfield, admitted drink driving and was banned from the road for 16 months.

The incident happened at the junction of Priory Lane and Victoria Road in Macclesfield at around 1.20am on February 28.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said: “PC Moores was called to the scene of an accident where two female passengers had been injured in the collision, and two males, including the driver, had left the scene.”

Mrs Byrne said paramedics attended and police searched the area for Doherty and his friend.

She said: “Police returned to the vehicle to find two males inspecting the damage.

“The defendant admitted being the driver but insisted he hadn’t been driving fast.

“He smelt strongly of intoxicants. The breathalyser reading was 57mg. The legal limit is 35mg.”

Doherty, a dad of one, told police he had gone to the Pack Horse pub at Broken Cross to watch boxing when he was unable to watch it at home.

Mrs Byrne said: “He told police he felt fine to drive and offered two females, who were outside the pub, a lift. Within minutes of setting off on the journey he lost control of the vehicle. The back wheels went out and he hit a curb and crashed, the car landing on its side.

“He then panicked and ran with his friend to his friend’s address nearby. They both then decided to come back.”

Sam Fixter, defending, said Doherty, a selfemployed plasterer and roofer, was ‘effectively unemployed’ because of his ban.

He said: “He foolishly thought he was okay to drive. They were only going 400 yards and the accident happened 200 yards into the journey.

“Although there were paramedics I understand no one was actually injured.”

Doherty was fined £253.

‘They were only going 400 yards’