Dwane Sweet was also seen ‘staggering’ up his drive and was reported to police by a witness
South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
A drink-driver struggled to park his car outside his Northumberland home after returning from travelling just 700m to a shop to buy more booze. Dwane Sweet was reported to police by a witness after they saw him trying to park his Audi TT then stagger up his driveway.
Officers attended his address on Blackdene, in Ashington, and he later failed a breath test, although some of the alcohol he’d consumed he been after he returned home. The 54-year-old, who works as a chef on an oil rig, has now been banned from the roads for 17 months after he pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drink.
Jade Houston, prosecuting at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court, said a witness reported Sweet on October 18 last year. She added: “The witness said he’d seen the defendant struggling to park his car on his drive.
“He suspected that the defendant was drunk due to him staggering from his vehicle. The officers located the vehicle later in the day and they noticed that the brakes were warm to touch, indicating recent use.”
The court heard that Sweet, who has three offences on his record, was arrested and later gave a reading of 118mcg of alcohol, in 100ml of breath, when the legal limit is 35mcg. However, some of that reading was post-driving consumption, Miss Houston told magistrates.
Josh Hart, defending, said Sweet was prone to binge drink when he returned home from working on the rigs and had done so on this occasion. Mr Hart continued: “On the day in question, he had something to drink before going out.
“He drove approximately 700m to a shop to buy more alcohol and 700m back. It was a relatively short distance driven. The witness refers to him leaving the house and returning five minutes later. When he got home, he drank more alcohol.
“The police then come. The breath reading doesn’t reflect the reading he would have given when he’d driven.” The court heard that Sweet suffered from PTSD and he was now seeking help from his GP.
As well as the ban, Sweet was fined £1,666 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £666 victim surcharge.