Drink-driver almost four times over legal limit runs himself over with own van

A drink-driver found unconscious on a grass verge by police had been run down by his own van, a court heard. Andrew Haimes, 47, who turned out to be almost four times the limit, was lying on his back. His Mercedes Vito was two metres away, crashed and badly damaged in a ditch against an allotment shed. Haimes came to and was taken to hospital by ambulance. He had been slurring his words and his eyes were glazed.

A test, almost four hours later, showed 116 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35, Burnley magistrates were told. The court heard the defendant claimed the van’s handbrake was controlled by a foot pedal, the handbrake came off and he ended up on the ground after the vehicle rolled back into him when he stopped to check a noise in the back.



Self-employed Haimes, who has a drink drive conviction from 1997, admitted driving with excess alcohol in Rothesay Road, Brierfield, on September 18. The defendant, of Elland Road, Brierfield, was bailed until today, for a pre-sentence report. Hilary Rees, prosecuting, said paramedics were called and Haimes told them he had been drinking in a pub and had driven the van to where it was.

An ambulance crew member told him that was naughty and the defendant replied: “Very naughty”. Mrs Rees added the breath test was taken after Haimes was released from hospital. Angela Rossi, for Haimes, said he had watched football at the pub and said he was drinking shandy. He had driven to park the van where he could see it as he feared his tools would be stolen.