Words by Douglas Whitbread
A DRUNKEN driver from Stalybridge, who tested almost six times the alcohol limit after he crashed his car, has been spared jail after telling a court he had since sold the vehicle for scrap.
Philip Littlewood, 55, of Buckley Street, was so intoxicated he had to be held up by police officers after he bumped his Renault Clio into another car while out taking his pet dog for a walk.
He later told police he had drunk a half a litre bottle of 15 per cent alcohol proof sherry before ”blacking out”.
A breath test showed jobless Littlewood, who lives alone with his dog in Staybridge, had 207 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg with magistrate Diane Webb-Hobson saying it was the highest reading she had ever encountered.
At Manchester Magistrates Court, Littlewood faced up to six months jail after admitting drink driving, but was given 22 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months after arguing he had been drinking heavily due to loneliness.
The court heard he had a previous conviction for drink driving.
The incident occurred at 7.30pm on February 15 last year after Littlewood was seen struggling to control his vehicle as he reversed out of a car park outside The Bridgefield Indian restaurant in Stalybridge.
Miss Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said: ”A witness became aware of a silver Renault Clio being reversed so fast that he thought it was going to crash.
“It did indeed come to a stop by a white BMW series car, but it had reversed into it causing a small scratch. The driver was at the wheel of the Clio and had a small dog with him.
“The witness went to talk to the driver who was slurring his words and who looked like he was going to fall asleep. The witness knew that the man was intoxicated. He called the police and moved away from the car, so he did not get hurt as the driver was still revving the engine.
”Other people came out to witness the situation and police officers arrived and attended the vehicle. The police officers saw that the man was drunk at the scene. The police officers had to hold him up to take the breathalyser test.
“The police officers took two samples. The lowest sample was 207 in breath. The defendant was interviewed and said he took his dog for a walk and drunk a half litre bottle of 15 per cent alcohol sherry. Everything after that was a blank.
“He said he drinks every day and takes prescription medication, which he took that morning. The location was on a main road. The car park is to the side of the building. The offence took place at 7.30pm and there were clearly other people about.
Littlewood had a previous conviction for drink driving from 2012, when he was fined and offered a place on a drink driving awareness course.
Rebecca Wrack, defending, said: ”He has led a very sad life but accepts full responsibility and knows that the breathalyser reading is unacceptable. He leads a very isolated life and lives alone with his dog. When he was 15, he lost his older brother and recently, he lost his other brother.
”He desperately needs some intervention and would welcome some support and assistance. Since this incident, he has scrapped his car and has not driven since. The pandemic has made his life even more isolated. He doesn’t do much, he just stays at home.
“He is very regretful for his actions and is remorseful and he has never been to prison before. He said to me ‘I deserve what I get’ but he clearly is a man that needs some help. In the intervening time, he has suffered a stroke. He is unwell. He is on universal credit.”
Littlewood was also ordered to complete an 18-month community order an alcohol treatment programme lasting 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £772 in costs and surcharges and was disqualified from driving for five years.
Magistrate Diana Webb-Hobson told Littlewood: ”It is the highest reading I have ever seen – it is off the scale. However, I have also heard that you have scrapped your car and that you are remorseful. I feel you need help with alcohol dependency for a significant period of time.”
The highest breath test reading ever recorded in Britain is believed to be 275 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, taken from an unnamed driver by Cleveland police
What a pillar of the community! Does nothing, contributes nothing and probably claims everything. One of millions blaming everyone and everything else but himself. No wonder Tameside is I the state it’s in.