A man has been sentenced after driving to buy cigarette papers whilst drunk in Harrogate.

Tyler Sutton pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified at Harrogate Magistrates Court last Thursday (April 17).

Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court police were notified of a car on Cold Bath Road in the early hours of March 28.

CCTV operatives informed officers the car was “swerving from side-to-side”, before telling them the car had stopped at The Winter Gardens car park.

Police went to the scene, where they saw an unnamed female “guiding the car into a parking space”.

Ms Ibbotson said officers could smell alcohol on Sutton – the driver – and he told them he had been drinking.

The defendant was arrested and a breath sample taken at the police station recorded 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of Sutton’s breath – the legal limit being 35 micrograms.

The court heard a search revealed Sutton, of Woodhead Road in Tintwistle, Derbyshire, had previously been banned from driving and he was required to re-take his driving test before he could get behind the wheel again. 

Defendant had 'quite a difficult childhood'

Sean Wilson, defending, told the court the 20-year-old defendant was told to take an extended test after his previous driving ban had expired.

But he had not taken it by the time of the latest offence, which meant he was still disqualified from driving.

The court heard Sutton was working as a plumber at the time of the incident and was staying in Harrogate for a job. He has since changed jobs due to the obligatory driving ban he faced. 

Sutton was driving his colleague’s van when he was caught by police.

Mr Wilson said Sutton used to drink frequently, but has since sought help for his drinking. 

The case was stood down temporarily for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

A probation officer, who later gave a verbal report to the court, said Sutton and his colleague had been working late at the time of the offence.

They decided to go to J D Wetherspoon for some food after work, and Sutton admitted to drinking “two or three pints” at the pub.

The pair went back to their hotel and carried on drinking, before Sutton decided to take his colleague’s van to go and buy some cigarette papers.

“He realised he was not fit to drive and he was stopped by the police on the way back”, the officer said.

He added:

The court heard Sutton had “quite a difficult childhood”. The officer said things Sutton experienced during his childhood have affected him and could explain why he “drinks to excess”.

He also suffers with anxiety and depression.

Sentence

The chair of the magistrates’ bench told Sutton his driving record is “absolutely deplorable by the age of 20”.

They sentenced Sutton to an 18-month community order, during which he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a six-month alcohol treatment requirement and 60 hours of unpaid work.

He was banned from driving for three years and must re-take his driving test at the end of the disqualification.

Sutton was also ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.