Drunk driver who overturned car in Jarrow after downing 'six or seven' pints of lager is banned
The offence “involved a Suzuki Vitara which had flipped over on the westbound carriageway and the driver was trapped inside.”
A South Tyneside driver who downed up to seven pints of lager then flipped his car in a crash that left him trapped inside has been banned from the roads.
Matthew Loughlin, 41, overturned his Suzuki Vitara on the A194 Leam Lane at Jarrow at around 1am on Wednesday, October 21, and could not free himself.
Loughlin, of Langley Terrace, Primrose, Jarrow, eventually got out after the fire brigade, police and paramedics were called to the scene, a court heard.
He was taken to hospital after his arrest as a precaution due to being sick, but medics diagnosed it as the effects of the booze rather than car smash injuries.
The Gateshead warehouse worker appeared in court and was banned after pleading guilty to a drink drive charge but claimed he could not recall getting behind the wheel.
Prosecutor Glenda Beck told borough magistrates: “Police on mobile patrol were requested to attend a single vehicle road traffic collision.
“It involved a Suzuki Vitara which had flipped over on the westbound carriageway and the driver was trapped inside.
“It was at the junction of Mill Lane and the A194 and was on its side and the driver’s side was against the ground.
“There was one male with his seatbelt on. He confirmed he was the only person in the vehicle. Due to the car’s position, he couldn’t get himself out.
“Fire and ambulance arrived and after a short time, he got out of the vehicle. There were no injuries.
“He showed signs of intoxication. He confirmed having drunk six or seven pints of lager. He was arrested and taken to a police station.”
Mrs Beck added: “As a result of him being sick, he was transferred to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where checks were carried out.
“It was confirmed he didn’t have any injuries, and the sickness was clearly due to alcohol intake. He was taken back to the police station to sober up.”
Bearded Loughlin, who has no previous convictions, gave a reading for alcohol in breath at the roadside of 63mcg.
His evidential reading at a police station had dropped to 59mcg, against a legal limit of 35mcg.
Defending himself, Loughlin said: “I’ve actually got no memory of the offence, I don’t remember getting into the car.
“I don’t know what was going on. I made a mistake, it was the first I’ve made and hopefully the last.
“It’s not something I’d normally do and I don’t know why I did it.”
Magistrates banned Loughlin from driving for 14 months and fined him £484, with a £195 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
They offered him a place on a drink driver rehabilitation programme, completion of which reduces a ban by about a quarter.