Stannington drink-driver crashed in front of police then tried to flee …

A hapless drink-driver ploughed into a parked car directly in front of police officers before trying to flee on foot.

David Lawrie was on bail for a separate matter and was three times over the limit when he got behind the wheel of a Nissan Qashqai to travel through Bedlington ^[1], in Northumberland ^[2]. Unfortunately for the 40-year-old, he was spotted driving in a "poor manner" by passing officers, who slowed to carry on observing him through their wing mirrors, a court ^[3] heard.

They then watched as Lawrie crashed into a stationary vehicle before he got out and tried to flee the scene on foot. The officers gave chase and easily caught up with him, prosecutors said.

Lawrie, of Maple Court, in Stannington ^[5], is now facing a lengthy ban after he appeared at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court in custody to plead guilty to driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop after an accident. His case was adjourned until next month to tie-up with other cases he faces and he was released on bail.

Prosecutor, Claire Armstrong, said two police officers were travelling along Front Street, in Bedlington, at around 1.25pm on July 26 this year when, due to the poor manner of his driving, Lawrie's Qashqai came to their attention. Miss Armstrong continued: "The defendant drove past the police vehicle and the officers watched in their wing mirrors as he collided with a stationary and empty Peugeot 208.

"The officers turned around and travelled back to where the collision had taken place but were told that the defendant had run off. Both officers gave chase and stopped the defendant."

The court heard that Lawrie failed a roadside breath test and was arrested. He later gave a reading of 103mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is just 35mcg.

In a statement, the owner of the Peugeot said: "This incident left me feeling shaken. It has been a difficult time in my life as my father's funeral only took place last week. I used my car for work and, without it, I don't know how to carry out my job."

Glenn Reardon, defending, said Lawrie had a number of issues in his life, adding: "He makes full admissions to this. He's got no recent or relevant previous convictions and there's an early guilty plea."

References

^{^} Bedlington (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
^{^} Northumberland (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
^{^} court (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
^{^} Ashington drink-driver took pal's car and ploughed it into pick-up truck before fleeing scene (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
^{^} Stannington (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)