Drink driver freed by emergency crews after he crashed into tree gets a 12-month ban
A drink driver who was rescued after crashing a car into a tree and being trapped told a court that he had been going through financial difficulties when he took to the wheel.
Kieran Davenport, aged 26, of All Saints Avenue, Bewdley, in Worcestershire, pleaded guilty to having 106 milligrams of alcohol in 100 ml of blood on July 17, 2023, which is over the limit of 80.
Prosecutor Maggie Meakins told Telford Magistrates Court on Tuesday that Davenport had crashed a Volkswagen Tiguan at the A458 at Harley, near Much Wenlock, at 12.26am. Police and ambulance crews were called and had treated Davenport after he had hit a tree, and the tree fell on the car, trapping him.
After being released from being trapped he was rushed to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where a blood test revealed alcohol in his system. The court was told that Davenport had no previous convictions.
Davenport, representing himself, handed two references supporting his character to the magistrates.
He told them that he had been going through financial difficulties after his partner left him with sole responsibilities for the house.
"I was under quite a lot of stress keeping up the payments," he said.
Davenport said he had drank too much and took to the wheel while suffering a "lapse of concentration".
He told the court that he has sorted his circumstances out now.
Magistrates handed down a 12-month driving ban, fined him £507 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £203 and prosecution costs of £135.