Sunderland drink driver crash into lamppost while more than three times the limit after downing vodka following row with partner

The case was head at South Shields Magistrates' Court.

Christopher Atkinson, 39, of Rosebank Close, Hollicarside, told police he had been “daft” when they found him still in the seat of his Nissan X Trail in Toll Bar Road.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard he hit the bottle after his partner told him their relationship was over and amid financial and other worries.

He drove to a beach and fell asleep and had the collision after he woke and headed for home.

The assembly worker has now been disqualified from driving for 27 months and ordered to carry out unpaid work after pleading guilty to the drink driving offence.

The court heard he appeared drunk to officers who found him in his three-year-old motor at 4.15pm on Wednesday, November 6.

He told them he had drank vodka after a row with his partner and driven to the unidentified beach.

A breath test revealed 117 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson told the court: “The police received a report of a one-vehicle accident in Toll Bar Road.

“They see a Nissan vehicle that has collided with a lamppost. The defendant is still in the driving seat and appears drunk.

“He said that he had been daft and had had an argument with his lass, had drunk vodka and driven to the beach.

“The reading is a higher one. Looking at the readings, this is right at the top end, but short of a custodial sentence.”

The court heard Atkinson, a dad-of-four, had rowed with his girlfriend over difficulties including finances.

On the day of the collision, she had told him their relationship was over, prompting him to buy a half litre bottle of vodka and head to the seaside.

Richard Copsey, defending, said Atkinson was contrite for what he had done, adding: “I’ve read the riot act about what the court could do if he had one more drink. It’s put the fear of god into him.

“It’s a catastrophic mistake. It’s come home to him today, he’s been distraught.”

As well as the driving ban, Atkinson, who the court heard remains with his partner, was also given a 12-month community order with a requirement to undertake 15 sessions of a driving awareness course.

He must also complete 15 days’ rehabilitation with the Probation Service, do 100 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £90 victim surcharge.