A drink-driver involved in a Carlisle crash after drinking vodka has been fined and banned from the road.
Richard Houghton, 37, came to the attention of police who learned of a two-vehicle collision at Cumwhinton Road in the city just before 2pm on May 14.
This had involved a Kia Rio and also a Suzuki Celerio driven by Houghton, who failed a breath test at the scene and was found to be just over twice the legal drink-drive limit.
Houghton told police he was to blame for the collision, and that he was an alcoholic who had relapsed the previous evening and drank a bottle of vodka.
At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court, Houghton, of the city’s Farren Close, admitted driving with excess alcohol on that occasion.
“He knows what he did, he knows he shouldn’t have done it,” said defence lawyer, Jeff Smith. “He is very sorry.”
District Judge John Temperley, who heard of Houghton’s significant past problems with alcohol, imposed a £200 fine and an 18-month driving ban.
This will be reduced by 18 weeks if he successfully completes a drink-driver rehabilitation course which was offered to him.
