Drink driving teenager had to be talked down from roof of Tip Top Tyres after running off from police

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard James Spedding’s own future as a car mechanic through a Evans Halshaw apprenticeship was in doubt after he was stopped while driving a Ford Fiesta on Commercial Road in Tyne Dock.

The bench was told the 19-year-old, of Fuschia Gardens in Hebburn, abandoned the car when officers stopped to speak to him at 4.25am on Friday, June 28.

Claire Irving, prosecuting, said: “The officers decided to do a stop check and when they approached, the defendant then ran off into a commercial compound and the officers chased after him to detain him.

“He agreed to come off the roof of Tip Top Tyres and went on to provide a positive roadside breath test.”

She added he gave a reading of 94 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath, almost three times the legal limit of 35 micrograms.

Spedding admitted the charge of driving while over the alcohol limit.

Valerie Bell, mitigating, said Spedding had driven to a night out an had planned to get a taxi home.

“Stupidly, he didn’t do that,” she added.

“He attempted to run away and was detained by police and fully complied at the police station.

“It’s clear he was upset and was crying and he accepted to the police that he knew what he had done was stupid.

“He has been unemployed and has just got a job as a mechanic and started last Monday.

“A decision will be made depending on what happens here at court and he knows it is possible he will lose his job.”

In a report, the probation service said Spedding had been “devastated” by his actions and the car since been locked away ready to be sold.

He was banned from driving for 23-months, with a reduction if he completes a drink drive rehabilitation course, and given a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.