Drink-driver crashed into three parked cars

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Thursday, March 3, how Andrew Walker, 38, of Jenkins Avenue, Mansfield, had enjoyed five pints of bitter before the collision on Leabrooks Road on February 13.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “Police were called to a road traffic collision involving the driver of a Ford Mondeo who had collided with three parked vehicles and the Mondeo was blocking the carriageway.

“Walker recorded a positive breath test at the police station and he said the car he was driving belonged to a friend and he was only a provisional licence holder.”

He told police he had had five pints of Bass bitter and he had left a pub in Riddings and thought the gap between the vehicles was big enough to drive through.

Walker pleaded guilty to exceeding the alcohol drink-drive limit, using a vehicle without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He told police he had been allowed to use the vehicle in the day time to deliver packages.

Probation officer Katie Webberley said Walker failed to consider the risks to other road users but he appeared genuinely remorseful.

Defence solicitor Kirsty Sargent said: “When he was approached by the police he was open and honest and he immediately told them about the vehicle he had been driving and said he had no licence and no insurance.

“He made full admissions to drinking alcohol, having no licence and no insurance. He has given genuine guilty pleas and shown genuine remorse.”

Magistrates sentenced Walker to a 12 month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 24 months.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.