Sunderland drink-driver's worrying near miss near Northern Spire bridge
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Michael Milligan, 33, narrowly avoided striking another car during a spell of dodgy motoring on the A1231 Wessington Way, close to the Northern Spire bridge over the River Wear.
After being pulled over at 9.15pm on Friday, September 27, Milligan, of Ashbrooke Hall, Ashbrooke, was so drunk he stumbled towards a police vehicle.
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Hide AdHe claimed to have downed just two pints but blew at almost three times the limit, prosecutor Paul Coulson said.
Milligan is starting a 24-month roads’ ban after pleading guilty to a drink drive charge at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Coulson added: “The evidence comes from an officer who provides that he and a colleague were on mobile patrol.
“Their attention was drawn to a Ford Focus which pulled out in front of them.
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Hide Ad“It had no lights on which was required. It was slowing down and then speeding up.
“It came to a red traffic signal at the Spire Bridge. It pulled away and nearly made contact with a car in the right-hand lane. The officers indicated for it to pull over.
“When the officer got out of his car, he could immediately smell intoxicating liquor on the defendant’s breath.
“The defendant also struggled to stand up and he stumbled towards the back of the police vehicle.
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Hide Ad“He confirmed that he had had two pints that night. A roadside breath test was positive and was arrested.
“It’s a disqualification of between 23 and 28 months. The offence is aggravated by evidence of an unacceptable standard of driving.”
Milligan, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to a drink drive charge.
He gave a reading in breath for alcohol of 103mcg. The legal limit is 35mcg.
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Hide AdChris Wilson, defending, said: “He has suffered from anxiety, and he took some alcohol, and then drove for home. It was a significant error.
“He isn’t drink or drug dependent. He’s aware he is going to be disqualified from driving for some time.”
District Judge Zoe Passfield, who told Milligan his was “a very high reading”, also sentenced him to a 12-month community order, with 100 hours of unpaid work.
He must pay a £114 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.