Drink driver banned from the roads after being caught driving back from derby match
A motor industry worker “has lost more or less everything” after being caught drink driving in Sunderland after attending the Wear-Tyne football derby match, a court heard.
Oliver Styles, 48, is set to be sacked from his car delivery job and has already seen his relationship collapse in the wake of his offence, his solicitor revealed.
Styles, of East Farm, Thinford, near Spennymoor, Co Durham, was stopped by police as he drove a Volvo V70 on the A1231 Wessington Way at 10pm on Sunday, December 14.
A roadside breath test showed a twice-the-limit booze level, a reading which jumped to closer to three times over by the time of an evidential test after his arrest.
Magistrates in South Tyneside were told he had driven to the match at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light ground and had not intended to drink – but did.
They also heard he had been banned from the roads in 2009 after committing the same offence.
Styles pleaded guilty to drink driving and was disqualified from the roads for 23 months.
Prosecutor Christopher O’Brien said: “A police constable was in a marked car and behind a burgundy Volvo, travelling west.
“Due to information via his radio, he signalled for the vehicle to stop. He spoke to the driver.
“The officer could smell alcohol in the car and the defendant's eyes appeared glazed and his speech was slightly slurred.
“The defendant confirmed that he had had some alcoholic drinks one hour before and had drunk two pints of lager.”
Styles gave a roadside reading for alcohol in breath of 72mcg and of 92mcg at the police station. The legal limit is 35mcg.
Amy Rochester, defending, said: “He had been to the Newcastle and Sunderland match that day.
“He travelled there by vehicle and hadn’t intended to have a drink, but he did and got behind the wheel. He made a foolish decision.
“He has lost his long-term relationship, his partner being very upset about his actions and decision making.
“As of today, he will lose his employment, as his work is in vehicle delivery. He doesn’t have a problem with alcohol.
“He’s lost more or less everything, and I don’t think there’s any greater punishment than that.”
Styles was also fined £200 and must pay £85 court costs and an £80 victim surcharge.