Hartlepool drink and drug driver who crashed into wall after police chase was four times alcohol limit

James Crammen, 23, was said to be nearly unconscious when he was found behind the wheel after colliding with the wall in Stockton Road, Teesside Magistrates Court heard.

The crash happened after a short police chase when Crammen, who had no insurance for the Citroen C2, failed to stop in Oxford Road on March 14 last year.

A breath test gave a reading of 155 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath, almost four and a half times the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

He also had 2.3 microgrammes of cannabis (THC) per litre of blood which was above the legal limit of 2 microgrammes.

Rachel Stapleton, prosecuting, said: “An inspector 200 metres behind signalled to stop and the defendant failed to do so for a series of roads, instead accelerating away from the vehicle at speeds.

"Police pursued eventually coming to a stop in Stockton Road. After careering off the road he collided with a wall.”

Crammen, who only had a provisional driving licence, admitted charges of failing to stop, drink driving, drug driving, and having no licence or insurance.

Related story: Motorist almost five times drink limit stopped on A19

He was also dealt with for shouting and swearing at a policeman in Borrowdale Street on Boxing Day when officers attended the scene of a road accident.

Ms Stapleton said Crammen swore at the officer and called him and offensive name.

Neil Taylor, defending, said: “It was pretty poor language that didn’t need to be used.”

Regarding the driving offences Mr Taylor added: “He certainly shouldn’t have driven the vehicle and he accepts that by his guilty pleas.”

He said the cannabis was from recreational use which stays in the system for some time.

District Judge Timothy Capstick said to Crammen: “Effectively you were near unconscious by the time they got to you inside that motor vehicle.

"If I had been dealing with you closer to the time I would have locked you up immediately because these offences in combination certainly cross the custody threshold.”

Crammen, of Borrowdale Street, Hartlepool, was given 12 weeks prison suspended for a year and banned from driving for three years.

He was also given a 12-week curfew between 9pm and 7am.

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