DRIVER CRASHED INTO FENCE AFTER DRINKING VODKA

Welder was three times drink-drive limit

DRINK-DRIVER Andrew Gibson was found slumped over the steering wheel of his car while more than three times over the legal limit.

The 48-year-old had crashed his car into a wooden post and a fence when he was found in Bignall End.

Magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard he had been drinking both the night before and on the morning of the incident, which happened at Station Road at around 9am on February 25.

Prosecutor Emma Thompson said: “Police officers attended a report of a road traffic collision. A male was found slumped in the driver’s side of the vehicle.

“He was slumped over the steering wheel and there was a strong smell of alcohol.

“There was some damage to his vehicle.

“It had collided with a wooden post and was blocking a footpath. It had also impacted with a fence.”

Gibson, of Victoria Avenue, Bignall

End, failed a roadside breath test and went on to provide an alcohol reading of 119 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

He pleaded guilty to driving while over the alcohol limit.

In his police interview, Gibson told officers he was a ‘working alcoholic’.

He said he had been drinking vodka the night before, then had gone to work as a fabricator welder at 6am.

At 9am he left because ‘there wasn’t much work on’ and called at the Coop to buy a bottle of vodka. He drank half before driving home.

The court heard Gibson had been through some personal issues and had not drunk alcohol since his arrest, which was described as a ‘short, sharp shock’.

Joanne Corbett, mitigating, said: “He has had a considerable amount of difficulties over the past few years and alcohol has become a prop to him. He suffers with his mental health.”

Magistrates handed Gibson a 28-month community order with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and disqualified him from driving for 28 months.

He must pay a total of £280 in fines and charges.