Lorry driver returned to depot three times over the limit

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard that Paul Hardy, 37, of Chapel Row, Philadelphia, Houghton, drank Frosty Jacks cider at an overnight pitstop near Doncaster on Thursday, February 6.

It was alleged he then drank more of the same while driving the MAN Box lorry back to base at the Be Modern furniture factory, in Jarrow, the following morning.

Police received an anonymous call, informing them Hardy had been drinking on the return leg.

He could now be jailed for the offence, which he admitted – and faces a minimum three-year driving ban.

The court was told Hardy and a non-driving colleague set out to make their deliveries over five days, sleeping in the truck at night.

Prosecutor Glenda Beck said they parked up near Doncaster at 8.30pm on February 6 – and the next morning Hardy’s workmate cleaned out four empty Frosty Jacks cans from the vehicle.

She added: “They stopped at a service station. A call was received that the driver was drinking alcohol.

“At about 10.30am they returned to Be Modern and parked the lorry. He was asked to sit in the office by his supervisor, and police arrived at about 10.45am.

“At 11am, they carried out a breath test. He was over the limit and was arrested and taken to Southwick police station.

“In interview, he said that at about 8.30pm they had parked up and he had purchased a 2.5 litre bottle of Frosty Jacks and had consumed about half and then fallen asleep.

“He said that he stopped twice on the way back but at no point had drunk alcohol. He was told that the driver of the vehicle had been seen drinking alcohol prior to driving.”

The court heard Hardy gave a breath test reading of 124mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Magistrates were also told the defendant had been banned from driving for 23 months in 2015 for drink-driving.

Paul McAlindon, defending, said: “There is a 12-week starting point of custody.

“I concede that there are aggravating factors – his conviction from five years ago, and he was driving an HGV.

“I think there are a number of issues ongoing with Mr Hardy, as a result of these he and his wife have separated and he has lost his job.

“I can’t argue against anything other than custody, but whether that is suspended, we’ll have to wait and see. He is facing a minimum 36-month ban.”

Magistrates adjourned the case for reports and Hardy will be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, March 26.