A drink-driver found stranded by police on the M6 had a 'very expensive experience' after losing his job following the incident, a court has heard. Chad O'Loughlin, 28, of Bluebell Crescent, Walsall, was discovered in the driver's seat of his damaged Tesla on the J6 slip road of the motorway on April 25.
The 28-year-old, who had been on a night out in Birmingham, was almost three times over the legal limit during a roadside test with officers. O'Loughlin pleaded guilty to being in charge of a motor vehicle while above the alcohol limit at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, May 26.
It was queried why the charge was the lesser offence rather than drink-driving, as he would have had to drive to the scene. However, the charge remained as drunk in charge. O'Loughlin, who had 'no previous convictions and was of good character' beforehand, avoided a driving ban and was instead given ten points on his licence.
Court Proceedings
Prosecuting, Alisha Collins said: 'On April 25 officers received reports of a Tesla that was stranded on the slip road to the J6 of the M6. They attended the scene and saw the vehicle was stranded, they saw him sitting in the driver's seat. They noted there was damage to the vehicle. The police officers requested to undertake a roadside breath test. He blew 100mcg in the road side test and was subsequently arrested and taken into custody. There, he blew a lower evidential reading of 85mcg.'
His solicitor, Mr Kelly, told the court that unemployed O'Loughlin, a 'hard working man', had lost his job as a result of the court case. He described the incident as his 'first and last mistake'. Mitigating, he said: 'He is 28 years of age and has never been before the courts before. We have heard the circumstances, he was driving home from a night out with friends in Birmingham. An alert has come on his car. He decided to pull off to check what it was, as he came round the tire had collapsed or hit the off side curb. He was completely compliant with the officers when they arrived. He is not someone who has ever been before the courts before. There is a letter that I have handed in. He is unemployed because of this incident. He has had a very expensive experience in this case.'
Additional Details
He added: 'There is genuine remorse by this young man. He lives at him with his mum and stepdad. This is something that is never going to be repeated. When he got up he felt fine, he was driving home that's when the issue happened. This was a mistake, this is his first and last, this will never be repeated again. He is a hard working man.' The court heard he had previous points on his licence for speeding. He was not banned from driving for the offence, but was given ten points on his licence. He was also fined, with a total of £197 to pay to the court.
Chair of the Magistrates, Mr Morgan, said: 'We have read the letter from your previous employer and from yourself. We do accept you are of previous good character and the impact that it has had on your job and your life and wider issues.'
