Drunk driver was nearly three times over the limit after wrong side of road crash

King had been drinking cider and his 'mental health was in a really bad state'
-Credit: (Image: Getty)


A drink-driver who crashed into a parked van after driving on the wrong side of the road had started drinking while depressed, a court heard. Oliver King was almost three times the drink-driving limit when he left his home in Fleckney, south of Wigston.

Court heard that the 33-year-old had left his home in Burton Road with the intention of taking his own life. Thursday's (October 17) hearing at Leicester Magistrates' Court was told how Leicestershire Police were called by a witness who was worried there could be an accident after they saw King's Mini Cooper driving on the wrong side of the road in the area late on Monday, September 30.

When the officers located King he had been heading into nearby Saddington, along Kibworth Road, where he had smashed into a parked van while travelling on the oncoming carriageway. Both vehicles were severely damaged in the impact but there were no significant injuries caused.

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At the scene, King gave a reading of 100 microgrammes per 100ml upon being breathlysed. He was nearly three times the legal drink-driving limit of 35 microgrammes per 100ml. He was promptly arrested and taken to a police station after the incident.

Amena Aijaz, representing King, told the court: "On the day his mental health was in a really bad state. He was at home, he was drinking and he had a few ciders and, unfortunately, he made the decision to get behind the wheel to end his life.

"At the time he didn't think about the consequences for other road users. He's devastated a collision did happen with another vehicle."

Indicating to her client, who had been crying in the dock, Ms Aijaz said: "As you can see he is quite upset. He's seeking help from psychiatrists and psychologists.

She said there had been "significant damage" to both the vehicles involved and that King's insurance company would not cover the damage to his Mini Cooper. She added that her client had left his job recently.

She said: "He understands this could have ended a lot more seriously. He's grateful there were no injuries to anyone."

King pleaded guilty to driving while over the limit. Chair of the bench, Amrik Singh, told him: "You've got a very high reading and there's the fact you were involved in an accident. Thankfully there were no serious injuries caused. It could have been so much worse."

King was given a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and he was disqualified from driving for 25 months. He was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.