A Walsall man appeared in court after admitting to driving over the legal alcohol limit prior to crashing his Ford Fiesta into a tree.
Tyler Newbold, 22, was involved in the incident on Bosty Lane, Aldridge, near the junction with Red House Lane shortly after midnight on 18 July. Police who attended the scene found Newbold standing beside the vehicle and he identified himself as the driver.
During proceedings, prosecutor Savithru Wijeratne told the court that Newbold fully admitted to drinking two bottles of beer before driving. He also claimed the vehicle had brake problems.
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Following a roadside breath test, Newbold was arrested. Subsequent analysis revealed he had 50 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 micrograms.
At Dudley Magistrates' Court on 27 August, Newbold, of Hollemeadow Avenue, Walsall, pleaded guilty to driving with an alcohol level above the legal limit. Representing himself, he stated he had never previously driven under the influence.
Newbold explained he had been struggling emotionally after a recent breakup and was not in the right frame of mind when he agreed to give a friend of his sister a lift home.
“I wasn’t in the right mindset at all due to everything going on in my life,” he told magistrates.
Magistrate Jane Goode acknowledged the defendant’s circumstances and character references, describing the offence as “a one-off”. However, she emphasised that a driving ban was necessary.
Newbold received a 12-month driving disqualification but was offered the option to take a course. Completion of this course by 26 March next year would reduce the ban by three months. Additionally, he was fined £249 and ordered to pay a £98 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.