Drink driver claimed his drink may have been spiked at wedding party

A Laneshaw Bridge lorry driver who smashed into two cars while more than twice the limit drove off and was found “slouched on the settee,” at his nearby home, a court heard.

Barry Saggers (51) had parked his Volkswagen Passat outside, just 220 metres away from the crash scene.

He had been to a “wedding do” just five minutes’ walk from his property, but had offered to drive and got behind the wheel of his car because one guest, a female friend, could not make it in her high heels.

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Burnley magistrates were told how Saggers could not remember there had been an accident at all and claimed his drink may have been spiked.

The defendant, who has now lost his job, admitted driving with excess alcohol in Emmott Lane, Laneshaw Bridge, failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident, on August 3rd.

He was fined £110, with £85 costs, a £20 victim surcharge and a £150 criminal court charge. Saggers, of School Lane, Laneshawbridge, was banned also banned from driving for 20 months.

Miss Parveen Akhtar (prosecuting) said at 1-30am, the defendant collided with a Nissan Primera and a Mitsubishi Shogun in Emmott Lane, and did not stop, leaving debris in the road.

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Police went to the area and located the vehicle they were looking for in front of a house 220 metres away.

The defendant’s wife answered the door and officers found him slouched on the settee.

His speech was slurred and his eyes were red and glazed.

The defendant told police he had been drinking Guinness at the Emmott Arms and the Alma Inn and admitted he had been driving the vehicle.

He blew 80 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when tested - the legal limit is 35. Saggers, the court heard, had no previous convictions.

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John Rusius (defending) said the defendant had gone to a “wedding do” at the Alma Inn which was a five to 10 minute walk away and the only reason he had taken his car was because a female friend could not walk in her high heels.

His intention had been to leave his vehicle at the pub.

The solicitor continued: “They enjoyed the evening and then strangely, he can’t remember what happens next. That clearly is not because he had too much to drink.

“Now, whether his drink has been spiked or something along those lines, whether he has picked up the wrong drink, we can only speculate.

“He, for some reason, got in the vehicle and has gone a very short distance. He can’t remember there being an accident at all.”

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