Kirkby drink driver tried to flee from police after crashing car into a ditch

Adam Featherstone was seen crouching beside a VW Golf when officers found it by the side of the A616, in Church Warsop, at 1pm, on July 4, said prosecutor Sarah Holland.

Upon seeing the officers he ran off and was found hiding in bushes after a short area search.

A test revealed he had 73 mcgs of alcohol in 100 mls of breath, when the legal limit is 35 mcgs.

The court heard he has no previous convictions.

Lesley Pidcock, mitigating, said: "It's clear he made a very serious error in judgement. He panicked. He had never found himself in that position before. He admitted that he was the driver at the scene."

Featherstone lost his job because his employer considered the accident was gross misconduct, but he has since found alternative employment, Ms Pidcock said.

"He made the mistake of getting specialised drink-driving legal advice which has cost him £1,400 in legal costs before he came to court.”

Featherstone volunteers at a local boxing club and the offence was "out of character", Ms Pidcock added.

Featherstone, 34, of Alexandra Street, admitted drink driving when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court, on Thursday.

He was fined £400, with a £40 surcharge and £85 costs.

He was banned for 17 months, but he was offered a rehabilitation course for drink drivers which will reduce the disqualification by 129 days if he completes it before June 19, 2022.

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