Drunk Driver Found Asleep At The Wheel

POLICE found drink-driver Benjamin Tibbs asleep in a car he had crashed into a fence in the early hours of the morning. The green Ford Fiesta was parked across the pavement, with its rear end through the wooden fence, and its wheel in a flower bed. Appear

POLICE found drink-driver Benjamin Tibbs asleep in a car he had crashed into a fence in the early hours of the morning.

The green Ford Fiesta was parked across the pavement, with its rear end through the wooden fence, and its wheel in a flower bed.

Appearing at Ely courthouse on Thursday, 28-year-old Tibbs, of Little Green, Cheveley, admitted driving when over the alcohol limit in Holland Park at Cheveley on May 26.

"The driver was found slumped over the passenger seat, apparently asleep," prosecutor Matthew Bradbury told the court. "His speech was slurred; his eyes were red and glazed.

"The ignition was on, there were lights on the dashboard, but the engine was not running."

The car belonged to Tibbs' father, said Mr Bradbury. Tibbs gave a breath test reading almost double the legal alcohol limit.

Representing himself in court, Tibbs said he had intended to walk home after drinking at a friend's house, and could not remember getting into the car.

He had offered to pay for the damage he caused, and was glad that no one had been hurt by his actions.

The court banned Tibbs from driving for 16 months, and fined him £250 with £60 costs and a £15 surcharge.