Friday, October 03, 2014

Driver was "tripping" as he crashed in to parked cars

An Airbus aircraft worker who said he was “tripping” after drinking a bottle of wine and half a bottle of vodka smashed into three parked cars – writing two of them off.

Robert Neald Taylor, 46, drove off from the scene of the crash in Church Street, Connah’s Quay.

One of the car owners, who had been sitting in his vehicle at the time of the impact, pursued Taylor’s car as it sped off.

But Taylor’s car developed a fault and came to a stop some 300 yards away at the top of Church Hill.

Laurence Carroll, who was concerned for other road users if Taylor continued, grabbed the ignition keys.

The driver told him “I am tripping” and “I want to kill myself”.

Taylor, a shift worker at Airbus, of Chester Close, Shotton, was slurring his words, his eyes were glazed and when he tried to get out of his car he could barely stand.

It turned out that he had drunk a bottle of wine and half a bottle of vodka while parked in Dock Road.

Taylor admitted driving with 132 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath compared to the legal limit of 35mgs, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop after an accident.

His defense solicitor said alcohol had been “devilish” for Taylor.

He was banned from driving for four years and was ordered to carry out an extended driving test and received an 18 week prison sentence, suspended for a year.

Magistrates, who said they were very serious offenses, placed him on supervision to help him with his drink habit.

He ended up with a £915 court bill of fines, costs and compensation.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, said the incident happened at about 7.45pm.

Mr Carroll was parked in Church Street waiting to pick up his young son when he heard a massive bang.

He looked up and saw a people carrier hit a parked car which was shunted into another.

The Vauxhall Zafira then shot across the road and hit Mr Carroll’s vehicle.

It did not appear that the driver had tried to brake. He then tried to speed off with his wheels spinning.

Mrs Jackson said Mr Carroll could not believe Taylor had made off and pursued him.

But at the top of Church Street Taylor’s engine appeared to fail as he still had his foot on the accelerator but the car stopped.

Taylor told Mr Carroll “I am sorry, I didn’t try to hurt you” and remained at the scene until the police arrived.

Later interviewed, he said he was sorry and that he could not believe how stupid he had been.

Damian Sabino, defending, told magistrates: “We have heard the phrase the demon drink.

“This is a case where alcohol has been devilish for him.”

Mr Sabino said it was rare for him to be moved by a defendant’s personal mitigation, but he had been while taking instructions from a very upset Taylor, who was pragmatic about the outcome of the proceedings.

On the day of the offense he wanted quiet time for himself.

He was not a man who drank in a pub but drove to a relatively quiet spot and drank, intending to kill himself.

The court heard he was at a very low ebb at the time and had driven to the location by the river to “end it all”.

The defendant came to his senses as far as that was concerned but took the foolish decision to drive home – a catastrophic decision with enormous ramifications.

Taylor – who lost an eye 20 years ago in an attack involving a stiletto heel on a shoe – had stopped drinking since the offense.

He was tackling his alcohol issue and had the support of his wife.


- Source:  http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk

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