Paul Duffy, 58, received a driving ban and suspended sentence after driving with a breath alcohol level of 147, four times the legal limit.
The prosecutor, Shane Maddocks, said it happened around 4 PM on September 14 of last year. Duffy’s wife called the police then, saying he crashed into their wall.
Police arrived at the scene and found Duffy intoxicated. His speech was slurred, and he seemed unable to talk normally.
Maddocks stated Duffy sat behind his car with broken glasses around his neck, having hurt his eyebrow too. He wouldn’t give officers a roadside sample and went to custody later.
His breath had 147 micrograms of alcohol, far exceeding the legal limit of 35. Duffy had committed past offenses, with 11 offenses across ten convictions, including a similar crime in 2009.
His lawyer argued in court that Duffy only drove in his car park and not on the public road. He admitted to being the driver and said he would pay for the wall while showing remorse for his actions, citing difficult times that triggered the drinking.
The court heard about Duffy’s turmoil, how he had returned to drinking. A driving ban would hurt him and his partner.
The court knew his alcohol level was high and that he had a prior offense, albeit long ago. They thought Duffy could improve himself, giving him ten weeks in prison, suspended for one year, and ordering him to participate in rehabilitation.
Duffy also cannot drive for three years and must pay £400 in costs, plus a £154 victim surcharge.