Drink driver stopped by cops in Wearside while more than four times the limit

A dad-of-three whose life unravelled after a series of personal setbacks has escaped a jail term for driving on a Wearside road at over four times the drink-drive limit.
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Magistrates imposed the maximum 26-week custodial sentence on machine operator Gary Porteous, 45, but reduced it to 17 weeks for his early guilty plea – and then suspended it for 18 months.

They also banned him from driving for 36 months – the maximum possible – after hearing how he had turned to booze after losing his senior management job with a Washington steel firm due to the pressure it brought, and relationship issues.

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South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard Porteous was spotted driving erratically through Washington at 1.45pm on Sunday, November 17, by an off-duty policeman.

Magistrates imposed the maximum 26-week custodial sentence on machine operator Gary Porteous, 45, but reduced it to 17 weeks for his early guilty plea – and then suspended it for 18 months.Magistrates imposed the maximum 26-week custodial sentence on machine operator Gary Porteous, 45, but reduced it to 17 weeks for his early guilty plea – and then suspended it for 18 months.
Magistrates imposed the maximum 26-week custodial sentence on machine operator Gary Porteous, 45, but reduced it to 17 weeks for his early guilty plea – and then suspended it for 18 months.

His black Audi A4 was seen slowing to around 40mph on the 70mph highway and rapidly up to the speed limit – and it also clipped the curb on a roundabout.

The officer called in colleagues who stopped divorced Porteous in Baugh Close, Washington.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson told Magistrates that Porteous gave a breath test reading of 151mgs in 100mls of breath, against a legal limit of 35mgs.

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Mr Anderson said: “He came to the attention of an off duty police officer. The officer noticed his black Audi being driven extremely erratically.

“The speed limit is 70mph and the car was dropping down to 40mph then up to the speed limit. The officer was concerned about the manner of his driving.

“He then went onto a roundabout at a very low speed and clipped the curb. The police were called, and the defendant was stopped.

“He was unsteady on his feet and a bottle of gin was in the front seat. It’s a very high reading, four-and-a-half-times the limit. He’s clearly above the custody threshold.”

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Mr Anderson said Porteous, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, smiled and laughed when he got out of his motor and admitted to being very drunk.

Tim Gregory, defending, said Porteous, of Bluebell Close, Low Fell, Gateshead, may have been driving after suffering a breakdown.

He added: “It is a very high reading and it’s also very concerning about the manner of the driving. You’ll take a very serious view of driving and the reading.

“There’s no doubt he’s ashamed of how low he’s sunk. Everything has unravelled for him, relationships have gone wrong.

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“He had an argument with his partner and drove. He was driving into a housing estate to pull over and ask a friend to call his wife to pick him up.

“He has talked about losing his job as a little like a bereavement. There’s no doubt that he’s appalled by his behaviour.”

Porteous’ suspended sentence includes 30 days’ rehabilitation work with the Probation Service and 150 hours on unpaid work, and he must pay £85 court costs and a £122 victim surcharge.