Drink-driver crashed into parked car while driving home from East Boldon pub

Daniel Simpson, 20, was driving home from the Beggar’s Bridge pub in Station Approach, East Boldon, on Sunday, September 13, when he caused the smash.

Simpson stayed at the scene in St John’s Terrace, also East Boldon, and began swapping insurance details with one victim.

But another whose car was also damaged insisted on calling police, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said they arrived and breathalysed warehouse worker Simpson, who gave a reading over twice the limit.

Mr Davies told the hearing Simpson had been driving a VW Golf when he had struck a stationary car, causing the three-car shunt.

Val Bell, defending Simpson, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, said: “Mr Simpson is 20-years-old and of previous good character, he has never been in trouble.

“He made a bad decision and made a mistake. He should never have got into the vehicle and attempted to drive home.

“Mr Simpson struck a parked car which collided into two other parked cars, causing damage.

“He pulled over at the scene and began swapping details with a man.

“Another neighbour came down and it was her that said, ‘I’m going to call the police’.”

Ms Bell added: “At the scene, he was fully compliant. He said, ‘Yes, I was driving, and yes, I’ve had a drink’.

“The job he has is temporary and he was hoping to get an apprenticeship.

“He’s not going to lose his job but it’s going to made more difficult, but that’s because of his own stupid decision.

“There’s no statutory aggravating factors. There was damage to cars but there were no pedestrians in the vicinity.”

Simpson, of Hylton Avenue, South Shields, gave a breath test reading of 78mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

He was also fined £309 and must pay £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Magistrates offered him the opportunity to sit a drink-driver rehabilitation course, which reduces the length of a ban by a quarter upon successful completion.

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