South Tyneside dad deliberately drove into wall while almost three times the limit

David Hudson, 39, Kirkstone Avenue, Jarrow, told police who arrived at the scene in York Avenue that he did it on purpose.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard married Hudson suffered depression due to working long hours as a shot blaster and the pressure of helping to raise six children.

The court was told a roadside breath test revealed 93 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson said: “Police arrive and he was clearly drunk. He said that he had driven the vehicle deliberately and he had tried to kill himself. He said that he wasn’t in the right frame of mind.”

Mr Anderson said Hudson, who was driving a 55-reg Vauxhall Zafira, admitted to police that he had drunk four bottles of beer.

Dave Smith, defending, said: “This is a gentleman who has kind of lost his way a little bit.

“Perhaps from Mr Hudson’s point of view the depression has become more marked. He felt that before this incident that he didn’t exist.

“He does overtime in his job which leads to more stress on him and he goes home and there’s more stress. His depression was such that he felt there was no point. He’s now sought help for that.”

Hudson, who admitted to drink-driving, was given a 24-month ban, fined £550 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £55 victim surcharge.