Drink driving dad banned from consuming alcohol

Magistrates handed Leon Fitzpatrick, 33, of no fixed abode, a suspended 12-week prison term and ordered him to steer clear of drink until October.

His intake will be monitored by a specialist tag which detects alcohol – and he was warned any relapse could see him imprisoned.

They heard he headed for home in a borrowed motor but reversed into a Renault Megane in Bayswater Avenue, Town End Farm, on Wednesday, March 26.

The owner rushed outside and remonstrated but Fitzpatrick sped off, only to be found by police soon afterwards.

He then refused to take a breath test – and was also found to be driving without a licence, the South Tyneside court was told.

In a report, the Probation Service said he was so drunk he could remember nothing of the accident or his arrest.

Magistrates heard Fitzpatrick was immature and turned to alcohol to support his emotional state.

And his defence solicitor even conceded it was time his client grew up and began to be a better role model to his children.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson revealed a home CCTV system caught Fitzpatrick reversing a Renault Clio at low speed – and crashing.

He said the footage showed the damaged vehicle’s owner confronting him, before he drove off.

Mr Anderson added that police were called and located him nearby – and arrested him.

The Probation Service which interviewed Fitzpatrick ahead of sentencing as guidance to the court was told by him, he had started work that day.

He said he had gone out drinking afterwards and consumed “a vast amount of alcohol”, before being lent the car to drive to his mum’s home.

The report said Fitzpatrick relies on alcohol even when his life is going well, and he has no ability to stop drinking once he starts.

It also found he “needs to, effectively, grow up” and that alcohol was the crux of his offending.

The Probation Service concluded there could be positive “drastic changes” to his life if he quit booze.

Gerry Armstrong, defending, admitted Fitzpatrick’s crimes past the custody threshold.

He described the Probation Service sentencing recommendations, which included the alcohol monitoring tag and rehabilitation work, as “very severe”.

Mr Armstrong added the report put the onus on Fitzpatrick to make necessary life changes, adding: “It’s clear that any breach would lead to custody.

“I think it’s clear that this is a young man who has reached that age where he needs to grow up.”

Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample for analysis, driving without a licence and failing to stop after an accident.

Magistrates suspended his prison term for 18 months and ordered him to pay a £154 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

Alongside the monitoring tag, he must complete 25 rehabilitation days and complete 200 hours of unpaid work and the Building Choices programme.