Preston drink driver caused road crash after being told he would lose his tram cleaning job

Derek David Vaughan, 36, of Heather Grove, Ribbleton, Preston, drank four pints at a pub in Horwich, Bolton, before getting behind the wheel of a friend's Citroen C2 on August 24 last year, while twice the legal limit.

Preston Crown Court heard he collided with an oncoming Mercedes at the junction of St George's Road and Milne Street, writing off the vehicle he was driving.

At the time he was subject to a jail term of 12 months, suspended for two years, for assaulting his ex partner and sending malicious messages

Vaughan admits drink driving and breaching a suspended sentence order.

Prosecuting, Rachael Woods said: " Police attended within minutes and were directed to the defendant, who was leant on a wall.

"He confirmed he had been the driver and handed the keys to the police. He informed police he had misjudged a gap when he was approaching an oncoming Mercedes

"The other driver tried to take evasive action but unfortunately the two collided.

"He admitted at the scene he had been drinking and provided a positive test and asked how far over he was.

"He said: 'I already knew I was over the limit."

She added: "It was the day of this incident that the defendant realised how badly wrong his life had gone and was also told he would lose his job cleaning trams. He was devastated by that news and made the utterly foolish decision to consume four pints and take to the wheel.

Imposing a 20 month ban, 50 hours unpaid work and a £450 fine, Judge Heather Lloyd said: '' Some people may think you were extremely lucky to receive a suspended sentence for your previous offences and yet you were given that opportunity.

"Four or five weeks later you were drinking well over the legal limit.

"It is not thanks to you that no one was seriously hurt or killed. Drinking with excess alcohol can have extremely serious consequences for all concerned."

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