'Bit of stupidity' - South Tyneside driver banned for sleeping while drunk in parked car
Driving ban for South Tyneside man caught napping behind the wheel, while over the limit.
A South Tyneside man who boozed then snoozed in his car at a Sunderland rural retreat while almost twice the drink drive limit has been banned from the roads.
Liam Hetherington, 34, is starting a six-month disqualification under totting after being given 10 penalty points to add to the five already on his record.
Hetherington, of Clovelly Place, Jarrow, was not easily roused by police from his slumbers in his silver Audi at Herrington Country Park, a court heard.
Once awake at 1am on Monday, November 3, he admitted he had drunk alcohol but insisted he had not intended to drive for another eight hours.
He failed a breathalyser and was arrested, and an evidential police station test showed an alcohol level of 67mcg, against a legal limit of 35mcg.
Change of plea on day of trial
Hetherington initially denied a charge of being in charge of a motor vehicle while above the alcohol limit but changed his plea to guilty on the day of his trial.
Prosecutor Liz Waby-Langan told magistrates in South Tyneside: “Officers were on mobile motor patrol and entered Herrington Country Park.
“They saw a silver Audi stationary in the car park and it had its engine running and its headlights on.
“An officer observed a male asleep in the driver’s seat. Due to the fact the engine was running, and he appeared to be asleep, they attempted to rouse him, with some difficulty.
“He did wake up, and he opened the door and the officers could smell intoxicants on his breath.
“Because of that, they required a sample of breath which he duly gave. He was cooperative but was over the limit for alcohol and was arrested and taken into custody.
“The defendant does have a record of 15 previous convictions from 22 offences, six are driving related but go back to 2013. He was last before a court in 2022 for a dissimilar matter.
“It’s at your discretion as to whether you impose a six-month disqualification or 10 penalty points.”
‘A bit of stupidity’
Hetherington defended himself and admitted the offence was “a bit of stupidity on my behalf”.
He added: “I had no intention of driving the vehicle that night. I was starting work at 9am.”
Magistrates, who heard Hetherington owes the court £4,800 from past matters, also fined him £900, with £400 court costs and a £360 victim surcharge.