Boozed-up bricklayer hit pedestrian in Worksop after losing control of car

The victim saw Stephen Searles turn into Raines Avenue, at 9.05pm, on February 26, travelling at over 40mph in a 30mph zone.

“The car lost the back end and it started to fishtail and swung from left to right,” said Kate Beardmore, prosecuting.

“As it fishtailed he expected it to slow down but he thought it actually accelerated.”

It collided with a parked car which hit the man and knocked him over a garden wall. He was taken to hospital with a shattered fibia and fibula, and a “nasty hand injury.”

A test revealed he had 62 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

David Verity, mitigating, said: “He doesn’t accept he was exceeding the speed limit. He is full of remorse and apologises for all concerned.”

The court heard Searles was under stress following the death of his grandmother.

The self-employed bricklayer, who lives with his parents, drank four pints of lager before driving his brother’s car, which he wasn’t used to.

Searles, 27, of Arundel Drive, Carlton-in-Lindrick, admitted drink driving and driving without due care and attention, when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court on Thursday.

He was given a 12 month community order, and must carry out 90 hours of unpaid work. He was banned for 18 months.

He was fined £300, with costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.