Company director blows his dream of becoming firefighter after admitting drink driving charge

A man has wrecked his dream of becoming a firefighter after he was crashed his vehicle while over the drink drive limit.

Jack Ingham was trapped unconscious in his family firm's van when he smashed into a wall.

He was thought at first to have suffered life-threatening injures when he was rushed to hospital in Preston, a court heard.

It turned out the 28-year-old had suffered a broken jaw and eye socket in the collision outside the Anchor Inn on Salterforth Lane, Salterforth, at 2am.

Ingham, who is a director of motorbike parts manufacturer, Raptor Titanium, in Barnoldswick, was later found to be just over twice the legal limit, Burnley magistrates were told.

A blood test taken at the hospital showed 170 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

Prosecutor Mr Carl Gaffney said Ingham had written to the court, indicating his guilty plea and expressing his shame.

Mr Gaffney said:" He is shocked by his behaviour and he fully takes on board the seriousness of what he has done. The consequences of this will prove a real challenge in the future."

The defendant had no previous convictions.

Miss Selina Akhtar, defending, said Ingham had been out drinking with friends and watched the Grand National.

He had planned to walk home, but decided to drive.

Miss Akhtar said: "Thankfully, it was a quiet time of night. It could have been a lot worse."

The solicitor said Ingham had wanted to be a fireman, but wouldn't be able to join the service because of his conviction for the offences. That had caused him a great deal of upset.

She added: " He has not had a drink of alcohol since this incident."

The defendant, of East Parade, Barnoldswick, admitted driving with excess alcohol and driving without due care and attention, on Sunday, April 15th. He was fined £368, with a £36 victim surcharge and £85 costs and was banned for 18 months.