Coked-up driver crashed into church wall

Drug-driver Jamie Fyfe has been jailed after he crashed into a church in the middle of the night. The 35-year-old was high on cocaine when he hit the church wall on Cheadle Road, Blythe Bridge, at 12.30am on October 5 last year.

Prosecutor Joanne Fox told North Staffordshire Justice Centre: "Police attended. Fyfe was in the vehicle slurring his words. He was drowsy and complaining of chest pain. The air bags had gone off.

"He was taken to hospital. A sample of blood was taken and it gave a reading of 82 BZE (a derivative of cocaine) against the legal limit of 50."

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The court heard Fyfe was in breach of a community order and attended 14 out of 26 appointments offered to him with nine unauthorised absences. And he completed just two out of 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Fyfe, of Duke Street, Fenton, pleaded guilty to drug-driving and failing to comply with the requirements of a community order.

Mark Sheppard, mitigating, said Fyfe lost his relationship and his accommodation and contact with his children became difficult. Mr Sheppard said: "His life was turned upside down. He sought solace in drink and drugs. There was a spiralling of his behaviour.

"Of late there has been a significant improvement. He has abstained from drinking for four months. He has self-referred to CDAS (Stoke-on-Trent Community Drug and Alcohol Service) for his alcohol problem and mental health problems.

"The vehicle he was driving was not replaced. He does not have access to a vehicle."

Magistrates jailed Fyfe for 12 weeks and disqualified him from driving for 17 months. There was no order for costs but he must pay a £154 surcharge.

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