A man who crashed a car into a bridge in Masham whilst drunk has been sentenced.

John Barker pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without insurance at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Thursday (June 5).

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were called to a report of a collision at around midnight on February 1 this year.

Officers were told a car had collided with a bridge on Thorpe Road, between Masham and Grewelthorpe.

The court heard officers were given a description of Barker, who was driving the car at the time, and recognised him whilst on their way to the scene.

Police requested a breath sample from Barker, which gave a positive reading for alcohol, and told him he was not registered on the car’s insurance policy.

As Barker’s airbag had been deployed, he was taken to hospital, after which he gave a blood sample which recorded 127 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

Ms Ibbotson said a named woman was also in the car at the time of the crash and sustained injuries as a result.

The woman told police both she and Barker had been at the pub in Masham before the crash. 

The defendant, of Hospital Road in Scorton, Richmond, had been drinking pints of Guinness, the court heard, and the next thing the woman remembered was "the car hitting the bridge”.

When the woman came round, she realised she had hit her head and could see blood everywhere, Ms Ibbotson said.

The female passenger suffered a large cut on her forehead and scalp, which required surgery, and has been left with a significant scar.

When interviewed, the 34-year-old defendant told police he had been at the pub from 4pm on January 31.

He could not remember much of the incident, but he recalled only the driver-side airbag being deployed.

Barker is of previous good character. 

Defendant was ‘dazzled’ by oncoming headlights

Martin Townend, defending, told the court Barker and the female passenger had been at a local shoot on January 31. 

After the shoot, the group went to the pub in Masham and the female passenger had offered to be the “designated driver”.

However, when they left the pub, the woman got into the passenger side of the car and Barker got behind the wheel.

Barker was driving along Thorpe Road when another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction approached the bridge around the same time as the defendant.

The other car had its headlights on high, Mr Townend said, adding Barker was “dazzled” by this and crashed into the bridge.

The court heard the passenger-side airbag had been turned off, but Barker did not know why as the car didn’t belong to him.

Mr Townend said Barker admitted the offence to the police and showed genuine remorse for his actions.

The chair of the magistrates’ bench told Barker he made an “extremely unwise decision” that night, which led to “serious consequences”.

He was banned from driving for 16 months, which would be reduced by 16 weeks if he completed a drink-driving course by a set date.

Barker was also ordered to pay a £461 fine, a £184 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.