DRINK-DRIVER FOUND SLUMPED IN CAR AFTER DIVORCE SPARKED BOOZING BINGE

Electrician had drank ‘a colossal amount’

■ Call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting IML 715627.

ELECTRICIAN Andrew Jesch has been banned from the roads after he was found slumped behind the wheel when more than three-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit.

The 36-year-old dad spent the night boozing after receiving his divorce papers and was found collapsed behind the wheel of his Mercedes in Talke Pits.

He provided a positive roadside breath test and was taken to custody where he gave a reading of 131 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Now Jesch, who has a previous conviction for drinkdriving, has been sentenced to 10 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and a 32-month driving ban at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.

Prosecutor Dylan Wagg said police were called to Talke Pits by West Midlands Ambulance Service on April 23 as Jesch was collapsed at the wheel in the road.

Mr Wagg said: “He had various alcohol containers around him. The paramedics checked him over. There was nothing wrong with him. He was just suffering from the effects of alcohol.”

Jesch told police he had received his divorce papers and had a big night of drinking. He admitted driving to the location.

Jesch, of Burland Road, Chesterton, pleaded guilty to drink-driving. The court heard he received a 16 month driving ban in 2009 for the same offence.

Andrew Turnock, mitigating, said his client is a hard working man who has not been well for several years due to a succession of personal issues. He said: “He has used alcohol as a coping mechanism because he has found it difficult, if not impossible, to cope. The night before the offence he received the divorce papers from his ex-wife.

“He drank heavily and finished at 5.30am. A colossal amount of alcohol was consumed. It is obvious he was just trying to blot out what happened.

“He was found slumped at the wheel, having pulled over. He cooperated fully and accepted he had been driving.”

As part of the suspended sentence Jesch must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days. He was ordered to pay £135 costs and a £128 surcharge.

His ban will be reduced by 32 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers’ rehabilitation course.