A BEREAVED pensioner who sought solace in alcohol after his wife died from Covid-19 was caught drink driving.

Paul Wheatley, 75, was almost three times the drink drive limit when police caught up with him following a collision that involved his distinctive gold-coloured Jaguar car, Carlisle’s Rickergate court heard.

The defendant, of Lingmoor Way, Harraby, Carlisle, who has never been in trouble with the courts before, admitted drink driving.

Peter Bardsley, prosecuting, described how at 9.30pm on September 12 police were called out to deal with traffic accident involving Wheatley’s Jaguar, which knocked off another car’s rear bumper.

It happened in Bannisdale Way, Morton. Police arrived on the scene and found that the defendant’s car had sustained a long scratch along its side as a result of the collision.

The officers found Wheatley inside a nearby flat.

A roadside breath-test confirmed that he had 91mcg of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit for driving is 35mcg.

“He was well on his way to being three times the legal limit,” said Mr Bardsley. “He admitted drinking five or six pints and a double vodka before driving on the road that day.”

Kate Hunter, defending, told magistrates: “Mr Wheatley is a 75-year-old man with no previous record; he was of good character right up to the age of 75 and up until this happened.

“Recently, in the covid period, he lost his wife. She died due to covid and this has put him in a position of grief and unfortunately he turned to drink.”

Miss Hunter said the prosecution was a wake-up call for the pensioner and he strongly wanted to apologise to everybody involved: the court, the police and the owner of the car that was damaged.

He accepted his drinking was becoming a problem but said this was now under control and not an issue. Aware that he faced a driving ban, Whatley had decided he did not want to drive again.

A probation officer who interviewed the Wheatley said the pensioner, a physically fit former power lifter, had since the death of his wife began incresingly been using alcohol as a “coping mechanism.”

Spirits rather than beer had been the problem, but he had now completely stopped drinking them, said the officer.  “He does go regularly to the pub but it’s more for social contact,” she continued." 

Regarding driving, the officer added: “He is selling the car as he does not intend to drive in the future.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with 40 hours of unpaid work. Wheatley must also pay £85 prosecution costs and a £114 victim surcharge. He was given a two-year driving ban.

* Cruse Bereavement Support is available for those who are struggling with grief. The charity operates a helpline, whose number is 0800 808 1677.