Man caught drink-driving twice in period of four days
A ‘high-risk’ motorist caught drink-driving twice in four days – and for the fifth time in total – has avoided an immediate jail term.
Mark Alan Pearson, 50, whose convictions date back more than 20 years, was stopped by police in his Vauxhall Astra car on the A1231 Wessington Way at Sunderland on Monday, July 20.
On the following Thursday officers were again alerted to the boozy antics of Pearson, of Kerry Square, Downhill, Sunderland, a court heard.
Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said he was spotted buying petrol when appearing drunk and a witness recorded his
registration number before alerting police
Ms Duffy told the South Shields hearing that officers tracked him to his home,
where he agreed to be breath tested and was again over the limit
Pearson originally denied the charge and claimed he had topped his alcohol up after leaving the vehicle, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.
But an expert, who was asked to study his case, concluded he was over the legal limit when he made the trip and a guilty plea was entered on both charges.
District Judge Kathryn Meek has now branded him “high risk” after hearing he had drink-drive convictions from 2019, 2001 and one even earlier.
She jailed him for 12 weeks for each new offence, which she suspended for 18 months, and banned him from the roads for four years.
Jason Smith, defending, said Pearson had a problem with alcohol and had self-referred to Sunderland’s Wear Recovery treatment service.
Mr Smith added: “He accepts that in that July period, and back to 2019, he was struggling with alcohol. He was using it as a crutch for depression.
“He believed that when he was driving he did not place people at risk.”
On the first offence, Pearson gave a breath test reading of 53mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs. On the second, he gave a reading of 160mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The legal limit is 80mgs.
Judge Meek also ordered Pearson to complete up to 20 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and to complete the Drink Impaired Drivers’ Programme.
He must also pay a £128 victim surcharge and £335 in court costs.