A BREWERY worker who was more than three times the legal drink drive limit on the morning he crashed his car has been branded a “disgrace”.

Magistrates this week heard Adam Callison-Houghton provided a reading of 115 micrograms of alcohol when breathalysed at the roadside by police on the A458 near Welshpool on February 18 – the legal limit is just 35 micrograms.

The 24-year-old, who had been drinking heavily at the time due to a relationship break-up, told police at the scene: “I should not be driving”.

He admitted one charge of drink driving at Welshpool Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, March 5.

Prosecutor Justin Espie said a witness travelling between Telford and Welshpool discovered Callison-Houghton’s Vauxhall Mokka on the wrong side of the road at Cefn Bridge, near Trewern, at around 10am.

OTHER NEWS:

“The witness said the defendant was moving slowly from the vehicle,” said Mr Espie.

“He appeared dazed ae said ‘I should not be driving, I’ve been drinking’.

“Police later arrived and noticed there had been an accident. The defendant’s vehicle was missing a wheel, there was damage to its rear, it was missing a wing mirror and there was damage to an Armco barrier.

“He was immediately cooperative with police. He said ‘I’m not going to lie, I’ve been drink driving, I was stupid’.”

Mr Espie said Callison-Houghton, of Bank Walk, Burton Upon Trent, had no previous convictions.

Rob Hanratty, representing the defendant, said he was a man of good character. “He had a traumatic experience some days prior to the incident,” said Mr Hanratty.

“He had been drinking heavily the night before with friends. He had slept then decided to drive, thinking he’d be fine. Of course he wasn’t.

“He was cooperative and pleasant with the officers, you can see he is a very respectful young man.”

Callison-Houghton was interviewed by probation officer Julian Davies, who said: “He was using alcohol heavily at the time in order to deal with a relationship breakup a few days earlier.

“He had been out drinking with a friend the previous day, he drank a lot into the early hours.

“The following day he left to visit his cousin in Lampeter. He said he needed to get away.

County Times:

“He thought he was OK to drive, he deeply regrets his stupid action and he is really grateful no-one was hurt.”

Mr Davies said Callison-Houghton works as a brewery technician, in a brewery, and is someone who is normally a social drinker. “During this period he was using alcohol to excess, he was using it as a coping mechanism,” said Mr Davies.

“He has since returned to social level use. He has been prescribed medication for depression and anxiety, which he believes is helping him.”

Magistrates called Callison-Houghton’s behaviour on the day “disgraceful” and disqualified him from driving for 28 months; he can reduce the ban by completing a drink drive awareness course.

He must adhere to a 12-month community order, which will include completing 80 hours of unpaid work and 15 rehabilitation activity days.

He will also pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.