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Drink-drive dad loses licence
A DAD has been stripped of his licence after he drove to a primary school while over the limit.
Daryl George Cooper got behind the wheel after he was called by staff at Hartlepool's St Cuthbert's RC Primary School to say the after-school club was cancelled.
Cooper's slurred speech during the conversation raised suspicion and a police community support officer (PCSO) was contacted by staff.
The shame-faced dad arrived at the school and walked straight into the hands of the PCSO who was waiting for him in the foyer.
He admitted drink driving in the town's Stratford Road when he appeared at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court and was banned from driving for a year.
Noel Brockbank, prosecuting, said it was 3.30pm on May 19 when a member of staff spotted Cooper drive up in a Volvo car and park in front of the school.
He told the court: "The PCSO waited in the foyer of the school and when the defendant walked in he engaged in conversation."
She said Cooper's breath smelled of alcohol and a police officer was requested to attend.
Cooper, 50, handed over his keys to the assistant head teacher and walked away from the school, but the PCSO followed him, the court heard.
The officer then arrived and Cooper was asked how he got there and replied "I drove", the prosecutor said.
Cooper was arrested and taken to Hartlepool Police Station where a test showed he had 135 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit is 80.
Geoffrey Adamson. mitigating, said: "This has had a devastating affect on my client's life resulting in his marriage breaking down.
"He has left the home and is living in an unfurnished flat at the marina.
"He has two jobs involving driving. He was suffering from undiagnosed depression at the time."
Mr Adamson said it was never Cooper's plan to pick his daughter up and he was not due to be attending the school on that day.
District Judge Martin Walker also ordered Cooper, of Fleet Avenue, to pay a 75 fine, a 15 victim surcharge and 25 costs.
He was offered the chance to take part in a drink drivers' rehabilitation course which can reduce the ban by a quarter if completed in a specified time.
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Weather for Hartlepool
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
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