Man admits crashing BMW into Northumberland bridge while more than three times over the limit

Carl Mileham, 27, crashed into Ford Bridge, at the junction of the B6353 and B6354, in a BMW 328 around 9pm on December 3, magistrates heard.

The defendant pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol when he appeared at Berwick Magistrates’ Court.

Prosecutor Rehana Haque revealed that Pc Turner arrived at the scene at 9.24pm and spoke to the driver before he was taken to the Northumbria hospital in Cramlington for treatment to a cut lip.

On his release from hospital at 11.35pm he was arrested. He was breath-tested at 12.25am, providing a positive reading of 123mg alc/100ml breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Magistrates heard the defendant, of Home Place, in Coldstream, had ‘several drinks’ before getting behind the wheel.

Ian O’Rourke, mitigating, said: “He had not used the car for two or three weeks because he had missed an insurance payment but decided, for reasons best known to himself, to put some distance between him and his wife and went to the Black Bull (at Etal).

“He had several drinks and then drove a short distance but skidded and collided with the bridge.”

The defendant also pleaded guilty to driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without third party insurance.

The court heard he had also been banned for drink driving in 2015.

Sentencing was adjourned until January 30 for preparation of a probation report.