Drink-driver hit central reservation
BREATHALYSER READING ALMOST DOUBLE LIMIT
A DRINK driver who had a shockingly high breath test reading was caught after police spotted smoke coming from his car.
Dad-of-two Craig Hayes, who was nearly five times over the limit, pulled out into oncoming traffic, travelled at excessive speed and hit a central reservation as he drove along Denton Road, in Newcastle, one evening last month.
Unfortunately for him, the manner of his driving, and the fact smoke was coming from his Peugeot 308, was witnessed by two officers, who signalled for him to stop, a court heard.
It was immediately noted that Hayes was drunk and he went on to give a staggering breath test reading of 171mcg of alcohol, in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is just 35mcg. It is one of the highest readings the court had seen.
Now, Hayes, of Castleside Road, in Denton Burn, has been given a 17-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months, and a 40-month ban after he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
He must also pay a £154 victim surcharge and £85 costs. Kinglsey Njoku, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, said police were on duty on Denton Road at 7.25pm on September 11 this year. Mr Njoku added: “There was a lot of smoke coming from the vehicle. The officers followed it and witnessed it pull out into oncoming traffic.
“It was also travelling at excess speed along Silver Lonnen and then it hit a central reservation while attempting to turn right onto Stamfordham Road. The police used their lights and siren to indicate for the defendant to pull over and the defendant came to a stop.
“When police went to speak to the defendant, they identified him as the defendant and they believed, from what they saw, that he was drunk.”
The court heard that Hayes’s “eyes were glazed, he smelled of alcohol and he was physically shaking” when he was spoken to by officers. He was arrested after failing the roadside breath test.
Jonathan Pigford, defending, said Hayes had been drinking after arguing with his partner and couldn’t explain why he’d got in the car in a bid to drive to her mother’s house to see her.
Mr Pigford said: “He must have a high level of tolerance to alcohol as most people would be unable to stand with that reading.”