An unusual excuse given by drink-driver to police

PARTS of Kirklees were hit by floods after thunderstorms yesterday morning.

Warnings were issued for Leeds and Wakefield, while North Kirklees also had a deluge.

The Environment Agency issued the warnings which meant “immediate action is required,” with flood sirens heard in parts of Leeds.

Shahban Abbas, of Dewsbury, filmed as Parker Road in Thornhill Lees flooded and said he went out to buy sandbags to prevent the situation escalating. People’s gardens were completely waterlogged with ankle-deep floods.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Sculpture Park at West Bretton was forced to close some exhibits yesterday.

Staff at the popular attraction tweeted to say: “Unfortunately, due to heavy rain this morning, the Bothy Gallery and Seizure by Roger Hiorns are closed until further notice.” initially refused to give a roadside breath sample as he’d been through the procedure before and just wanted “to be taken to the police station and get on with it’.’

Magistrates were told that Leigh, of Whitechapel Road in Cleckheaton, had turned to alcohol throughout his life to cope with difficulties.

Miss Sims said: “He has a lengthy record in relation to driving matters and his offending is quite clearly linked to the use of his alcohol.”

Magistrates sentenced Leigh to a 12-month community order as a direct alternative to custody.

As part of this he must comply with nine months of alcohol treatment and complete 15 days of rehabilitation activities.

He was banned from driving for 40 months and told to pay £85 court costs and £85 victim surcharge.

The cannabis found on him will be forfeited and destroyed.