Disqualified Telford drink-driver jailed
A disqualified drink-driver who "dangerously" travelled at twice the speed limit in a residential area of Telford – crashing into a car, traffic lights and a fence before coming to a stop – has been jailed for 30 months.
Clifford Campbell travelled the wrong way around a roundabout, ignored no entry signs and reached speeds of up to 60mph in a 30mph zone, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday.
The 50-year-old, who was more than twice the drink-drive limit, was also banned from driving for six years and told he had put lives at risk.
Mr Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting, said Campbell had taken his partner's Vauxhall Corsa without permission on May 2 last year and had crashed into a BMW in St Georges Road, Donnington.
The court heard he reversed at speed, crashing into traffic lights, before driving away despite one of the tyres being damaged.
Terry Carr, who had been driving the BMW, began to follow Campbell and called the police.
Mr Roberts said Campbell briefly pulled over but got back in his vehicle and drove away.
The court heard that Mr Carr continued to follow him and on more than one occasion Campbell stopped and reversed the Corsa into Mr Carr's BMW.
Mr Roberts said he also ignored no entry signs.
He said: "He went the wrong way around one of the roundabouts he crossed.
"Other witnesses described the defendant driving at speeds of up to 60mph in a 30mph zone with smoke coming from the car."
He said Campbell tried to turn into North Street, in St Georges, but collided with a fence.
The court was told Mr Carr then tried to take Campbell's car keys and Campbell lunged forward, trying to bite him.
Campbell was arrested and breathalysed, giving a reading of 95 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 35mg.
Campbell, of Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the day of his trial.
He had previously admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving while over the drink-drive limit, while disqualified and having no insurance.
Mr Stuart Clarkson, representing Campbell, said he suspected Campbell had a drinking problem, even though he did not admit it.
He said there was no evidence to suggest that anyone had been put in imminent danger.
Sentencing Campbell, Recorder Timothy Raggatt QC told him he was a "menace" to other road users.
He said it was his fifth conviction since 1997 for a "breathalyser offence".
Campbell had been disqualified from driving for three years just a few weeks before the incident.
Mr Raggatt QC told him: "You took a car when drunk, when disqualified, when uninsured and drove it in a potentially lethal manner.
"This was horrendous. It was a miracle no-one was seriously injured or killed."
