Darlington father jailed over drink-driving
A father, who was more than five times over the drink-drive limit after taking his three young children to nursery, has been jailed for eight months.
Ian Wilson, from Darlington, had drunk most of a three litre box of wine the night before, Durham Crown Court heard.
After dropping off his children on 26 March, the 40-year-old went to a nearby supermarket, but crashed into two cars and almost ran over a man.
He admitted drink-driving and dangerous driving at a previous hearing,
The court heard the self-employed businessman was on his way to a supermarket at about 09:00 GMT when he crashed his Vauxhall Moriva in Haughton Road, Darlington.
Ian West, prosecuting, said: "He ran into a vehicle that had stopped at traffic lights.
'Stank of drink'
"He tried to leave the scene by reversing, effectively ramming the front of the vehicle behind in an attempt to escape."
He almost ran one driver over while attempting to get away, the court heard.
A taxi driver blocked in Wilson's car and grabbed the ignition keys, and the police were called.
After his arrest tests showed a reading of 188mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
A nursery worker later told police that Wilson, who had a previous drink-driving conviction, "stank of drink" when he dropped his children off the day before, Mr West said.
Jennifer Coxon, defending, said Wilson had personal problems as his business was failing and had turned to drink.
Ms Coxon said he was now supervised by social services when seeing his children, who are aged five, two and one.
Recorder, Deborah Sherwin, said: "The danger you put your children in that morning cannot be described. It's difficult to imagine a worse case of driving while over the limit."
Wilson, of Dundee Street, Darlington, was also banned from driving for three years.