Chad O’Loughlin, 28, of Walsall, faced serious repercussions after being found drunk in charge of his Tesla on the M6 motorway. On April 25, police discovered O’Loughlin stranded in his damaged vehicle on the J6 slip road of the M6, near Birmingham, following a night out.
Roadside breath tests revealed he was nearly three times over the legal alcohol limit. At Birmingham Magistrates' Court, O’Loughlin pleaded guilty to being in charge of a vehicle while above the prescribed alcohol limit. The charge was reduced from drink-driving, though the court acknowledged he must have driven to the scene.
Despite his high breath test readings, O’Loughlin avoided a driving ban but received ten penalty points on his license along with a £197 fine. Magistrates took into account his previously clean record and the severe impact the conviction had on his employment status, with O’Loughlin now unemployed due to the case.
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His solicitor described the incident as a “very expensive experience” and O’Loughlin expressed genuine remorse, emphasizing that it was his “first and last mistake.” The court learned that the car had suffered a collapsed tire after hitting a kerb, prompting him to pull over.
While O’Loughlin admitted to previous speeding offenses, the court showed leniency given his good character and the consequences he already faces. The magistrates acknowledged the personal and professional toll, accepting letters from O’Loughlin and his former employer as mitigation.