Sunderland motorist was nearly four times the drink-drive limit

Mark Tulip, 50, of Millbeck Drive, Washington, walked free from court after magistrates heard his life had slumped after the onset of illness around three years ago.

It led to him losing his well-paid job as a garage supervisor and to the breakdown of a relationship, sending him spiralling towards depression.

Tulip was caught driving his black Vauxhall Astra while over the limit on the A195 at Birtley, Gateshead, on Monday, March 23, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court was told.

He gave a breath test reading of 131mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Magistrates have now handed him a 12-week prison term, suspended for a year, and banned him from the roads for 32 months.

Prosecutor Ben Woodward said: “The police speak to him at the scene and he fails a roadside breath test.

“A CAMIC procedure is carried out at a police station and the lowest level was 131mcgs.

“The defendant has no antecedents and is of good character, but we are talking about a high level of intoxication.”

Tim Gregory, defending, said: “Two years ago he was working in a garage as a workshop foreman and he was in a relationship.

“He then developed a condition which made it difficult for him to leave home, it greatly impacts on his day-to-day life.

“It forced him to lose his job and his partner left him. I concede that this case does pass the custody threshold.”

Mr Gregory added: “Mr Tulip is extremely concerned and worried about the position he finds himself in.

“He’s not trying to minimise the situation at all. He can’t understand how he could get himself into this situation.

“He doesn’t know how he could make such a bad decision. It’s a bit like all the onion peels of his life have fallen away.”

Magistrates also ordered Tulip to complete 26 rehabilitation days’ work with the Probation Service, sit the Driver Impaired Rehabilitation Programme and pay a £122 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

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