Former bricklayer caught driving at four times the limit after drinking gin and beer tells court he no longer intends to drive

A former bricklayer sank beer and gin – and then drove at almost four times the limit, a court has heard.
The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates CourtThe case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court
The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates Court

And Neil Wood, 62, of Westbourne Cottages, Shiney Row, did so for no better reason than to pick up a parcel.

Wood hit the bottle on Wednesday, May 19, after learning of a pal’s death, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On a toxic cocktail of booze and grief, he decided to jump into his Saab motor.

But he was found parked up soon after in Newstead Road, Houghton-le-Spring, by concerned police who relieved him of his keys.

A breath test revealed 145mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Wood, who has a sole previous conviction, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge – and was handed a suspended prison term at South Tyneside Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

District Judge Kathryn Meek acknowledged it was a “one off incident” and Wood had been out of trouble for many years.

But she added: “The reading is so high that it has to be a custodial sentence.”

She jailed him for 12 weeks, suspended for a year – and banned him from driving for 30 months.

Defence solicitor Charlie Carr told the hearing: “It’s an odd one.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s a gentleman who appears to have got himself in all sorts of trouble with possible erroneous consequences.

“The root of the problem seems to have been an emotional problem where a long-term friend has died.

“Rather foolishly, he started drinking lager and gin – and he took himself off to collect a parcel.

“It’s beyond me why he did that but that’s what he did. I think you can deal with this as an isolated incident.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court heard Wood, who worked as a bricklayer until last year, now suffers depression, and has prostate cancer.

He told the court he did not want to be offered a place on a drink-driver rehabilitation course, which reduces a disqualification by a quarter, because he no longer intends to drive.

Judge Meek also fined him £200, and he must pay a £228 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.