A mechanic who crashed into a bollard with a child sitting in the front seat has been jailed – because he was drinking a can of STELLA.
Reckless James Steele, 27, was given a six weeks’ prison sentence after the silver Volkswagen Golf he was driving destroyed a bench and bollard on June 18.
Police found him unsteady on his feet, with glazed eyes and stinking of booze in Haywards Heath, West Sussex – with an open can of high-strength lager in his car cup holder.
The irresponsible driver also had a young child sat in the front passenger seat at the time.
The car was wedged on top of a wooden bollard, and an open can of Stella and a knuckle duster were found inside.
PC Jo Fraser said: “We were called by members of the public, who stated they saw a man driving erratically with a beer in his hand and a child in the front.
“We arrived and spoke to a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver, who said he saw the Golf clip his vehicle and then clip a post on the side of the road.
“As the vehicle went around the corner he heard a loud bang, and he walked over to see the car had beached itself onto a post.
“The suspect was stood in front of the vehicle and as we approached him, he confirmed he was the driver.
“He was very unsteady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and he smelt of intoxicating liquor, and he was arrested.
“Due to his demeanour en route to custody, Steele remained handcuffed during the breath test process.
“He agreed to take part in the procedure but when required to give two specimens of breath, he initially sucked on the tube and then pretended to blow but only blew air into his own cheeks.”
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and was jailed for six weeks.
He was also disqualified from driving for 24 months and ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.
PC Fraser added: “Steele’s actions were completely irresponsible and his sentence demonstrates the seriousness of the crimes he committed.
“He managed to take out a bench and bollards in a built-up residential area despite driving slowly, and it’s worrying to think what could have happened had he been travelling at any speed.”
