Police find knuckleduster on South Tyneside drink driver who crashed and ran in Hebburn
Offender was found over twice the booze limit and had been driving without a licence or a valid MOT certificate,
A repeat South Tyneside drink driver who crashed into a parked car soon after daybreak has been banned from the roads for three years.
James Kilpatrick, 31, smashed his silver Ford Fiesta in Black Road, Hebburn, at 6.10am on Saturday, August 8 – then fled on foot, a court heard.
When police later found Kilpatrick, of Albert Road, Hebburn, he was over twice the booze limit and in possession of an offensive weapon – a knuckle duster.
He was also found to have been driving without a licence or a valid MOT certificate, prosecutor Christopher O’Brien said.
In a victim statement the man whose car he hit said the incident had caused his family difficulties in visiting a terminally ill relative in hospital.
Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to drink driving, driving without insurance, driving without a valid MOT and possession of an offensive weapon in public at an earlier hearing.
When he returned to court to be sentenced by borough magistrates, Mr O’Brien said: “The defendant was seen by two witnesses to be running away.
“It seems that the defendant had crashed his car into a parked vehicle which was then pushed forward several feet to collide with a third vehicle.
“He came back to the car to collect some keys and went away again. When found by police, he gave an alcohol reading of 74mcg. The legal limit is 35mcg.
“He has one previous conviction from 2020 which was driving with excess alcohol for which he was disqualified for 20 months.
“This latest matter is a disqualification of between 36 and 46 months because it is a second offence in 10 years.”
David Forrester, defending, said Kilpatrick had been under several life stresses at the time, including learning he was to become a father and debts.
Mr Forrester added: “He behaved in a way that wasn’t sensible. The disqualification has to be three years.
“His reading for alcohol wasn’t that high, it’s the equivalent of the four pints he told the Probation Service he had had.
“He is not someone who has a criminogenic attitude to society, but this is the second time he’s been to court.”
Kilpatrick was also sentenced to an 18-month community order, with 25 rehabilitation days and a provision to take part in the Stepping Stones programme.
He must pay £85 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.