'You could have killed someone' - Drink driver caught by cops in Jarrow had downed half a bottle of vodka
Driver was banned from the roads for 14 months after admitting to drink driving and possessing non-prescribed anxiety treatment drug pregabalin.
A drunk motorist caught on South Tyneside’s roads after downing a half bottle of vodka admitted to police he had been “busting the drink”.
Jamie Mulholland, 35, later also told a court his reason for boozing then driving on the A194 Leam Lane at Jarrow was because he was “having an off day”.
Mulholland, of Burlison Gardens, Felling, Gateshead, was tailed by officers as he motored his Ford Mondeo towards Whitemare Pool at 9.20pm on Monday, August 31.
When pulled over, he smelled of liquor and showed signs of intoxication via ‘glazed eyes’, prosecutor Emma Jobey told borough magistrates.
He blew positive for alcohol and after his arrest was found to be driving without insurance and in possession of non-prescribed anxiety treatment drug pregabalin.
The jobless offender pleaded guilty to one count each of drug possession, driving without insurance and drink driving - and was banned from the roads for 14 months.
Ms Jobey said: “Officers followed a Ford Mondeo vehicle being driven by the defendant and which was travelling at excess speed.
“When they approached the driver, there was a strong smell of intoxicants, his eyes were glazed and there was alcohol in the vehicle.
“He said he had had a half bottle of vodka. He said, ‘I’m going to be honest, I’ve been busting the drink’.
“He failed a roadside breath test and was taken to Southwick police station.
“He was also found with two blister packs of pregabalin that had not been prescribed.
“Further checks showed he was not insured. He has one previous conviction.”
Mulholland gave a reading for alcohol in breath of 47mcg. The legal limit is 35mcg.
He represented himself in court and when asked by magistrates if he wanted to explain himself, he said only: “I was just having an off day.”
For drink driving, magistrates also fined him £140 and ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £56 victim surcharge.
There was no separate penalty for the drug and no insurance charges, but the court ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs.
John Lee, chair of the bench, told him: “You were having an off day, Mr Mulholland, but driving with excess alcohol is dangerous.
“You could have injured someone, you could have killed someone, you could have killed yourself. Luckily, you’re here to tell the tale.”