Hartlepool man more than four times the drink-drive limit when found unconscious in car

Police were called by a concerned member of the public to Andrew Reid, 43, who was unconscious in the driver’s seat of a Skoda Superb in Kingsley Avenue, Hartlepool.

Officers had to smash the window to rouse him and a bottle of rum was on the passenger seat.

Reid admitted being in charge of a vehicle whilst unfit through drink on December 6 when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates Court.

The judge said it was a ‘very high’ alcohol reading and disqualified him from driving for four months.

John Garside, prosecuting, said: “At approximately 9.30pm police have received a report of a male slumped behind the wheel of a car parked on the side of the road, half on the pavement and the hazard lights flashing.

“A member of the public banged on the window but couldn’t wake up the driver, the defendant.

“The police came out and knocked on the window but got no response. They were forced to smash the passenger side window and noticed a small bottle of rum with a third remaining next to an empty bottle of coke on the seat.”

Reid was woken and taken to the police station where the lowest reading he gave in a breath test was 156 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

The court heard Reid, of Bede Grove, Hartlepool, had taken steps himself to address his alcohol use and had lost his job as a result of the offence.

He also has a sick wife and had no previous convictions.

District Judge Helen Cousins said: “You are getting help from the alcohol services. You haven’t been drinking since.

“I can’t ignore the very high level and so I’m going to impose a community order for a period of 12 months with up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days.”

She also imposed six months of alcohol treatment and ordered Reid to pay £85 case costs and a £90 court surcharge.