Dad turned to booze when his ex blocked Christmas Day visit
been banned from the roads for 20 months and hit with fines and court costs of nearly £240.
Prosecutor Paul Anderson told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court: “It’s Christmas Eve and if you’re going to be stopped for potentially drink-driving over the Christmas period, then Christmas Eve is most likely.
“He was stopped by the police and it was clear that the defendant had been drinking.”
Mr Anderson added: “There was mouth alcohol present and so the police moved on to a blood sample.
“The limit is 80mcgs in blood, so he was just approaching two-and-a-half times the limit.
“He’s got some previous convictions but nothing recently and nothing related.”
The court heard that Pickford gave a reading of 191mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The legal limit is 80mgs.
Pickford, who represented himself in court, told magistrates: “I’d had a lot of hassle from my ex-partner.
“I was told that I wouldn’t get to see my little girl on Christmas Day.
“I had a few drinks and then drove home. I’ve lost my job.”
The court also heard that he had three points on his driving licence but no previous driving-related convictions.
Dorothy Gibson, chair of the bench, told him: “It’s not a very bright thing to do on Christmas Eve.”
Pickford was fined £120 and he must also pay £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
The court offered Pickford the opportunity to reduce the length of his driving ban by a quarter by sitting the drink-driver rehabilitation course.