Watch more of our videos on Shots!
and live on Freeview channel 276

Daniel Brabbs, 29, was found at the wheel of a Skoda Octavia car in Stanley Street, off Boldon Lane, South Shields, on Wednesday, September 9.

A breath test showed Brabbs, of Kirkstone Avenue, Jarrow, was three times the limit and driving without insurance.

He was also serving a three-year drink-drive disqualification, imposed in February 2018, magistrates in South Tyneside heard.

The court was told Brabbs was also given two drink-drive sentences on the same day in 2010 for separate offences.

For those, Brabbs, who the court heard drank up to 12 cans of beer daily, was given two three-year concurrent bans.

He has now been handed a new four-year disqualification and warned he had come close to being jailed.

John Lee, chair of the bench, told him: “You’re a man who pays little heed to court orders and a man who has an appetite for alcohol.

“The public are intolerant of people who drive while they are disqualified and intolerant of people who drive with alcohol.

“You’ve come very close to going to prison this afternoon.”

Prosecutor Ian Martin said: “There was a wider incident. As a result, he comes to the attention of police officers.

“Mr Brabbs was believed to be the driver of a motor vehicle. He was interviewed and gave a no comment interview.”

Kevin Smallcombe, defending, said: “There had been some difficulties in that relationship. He went there, and he drove there.

“Alcohol is too much a factor in his life. He says that he drinks between eight and 12 cans a day.”

Brabbs pleaded guilty to driving without insurance, driving while disqualified and drink-driving.

His breath test reading showed 104mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

He was handed an 18-month community order for all offences, with a requirement of 20 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service.

Brabbs must also undergo a nine-month alcohol treatment programme and 14 sessions of the drink impaired programme.

He was also made subject of a month-long electronically monitored 7pm to 7am curfew, and must pay a £95 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

Drink driver caught over the limit for fourth time in 10 years narrowly spared jail