THE daughter of a woman who died in a drink-drive crash pleaded with a judge: "Don't allow my mother's killer back on the roads."

Paul Errington was jailed for four years and banned from driving for ten years in 2010 following the death of his new girlfriend.

Errington was back in court on Monday to ask a judge for his disqualification to be cut in half and get his licence back.

Denise Emers, 37, was thrown from Errington's Peugeot 406 which span across the central reservation and down an embankment.

The Northern Echo: Paul Errington leaves Teesside Crown Court where he is on trial for causing death by dangerous driving.
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Paul Errington leaves Teesside Crown Court

The car crashed through a fence and somersaulted into the air after leaving the A689 at Station Cottages, Wynyard, near Stockton.

Errington, now 44, was told by Judge Peter Bowers that he had been in a wholly inappropriate condition to drive before the accident.

The cafe owner, of Salvin Terrace, Fishburn, County Durham, was nearly twice the legal alcohol limit when he drove in the early hours.

He had not slept for 19 hours having been at work very early in the morning, while the roads were wet with heavy rain.

At yesterday's hearing, he told Judge Peter Armstrong that the ban caused inconvenience for his family and business.

He denied claims he has never shown remorse, and said: "From day one, I have suffered. I will be suffering for the rest of my years.

"There's not a day when I don't regret what happened. I will regret this for the rest of my life."

Errington had denied causing death by careless driving and said Ms Emers had an outburst and grabbed the wheel before the crash.

But Rupert Doswell, prosecuting, said the accident was either caused by a loss of concentration or him falling asleep.

Errington said he had driven for more than 20 years without a speeding ticket or penalty point, and had run a taxi firm.

He told Judge Armstrong that daily life is "a really hard struggle" for his new partner and three-year-old child without him driving.

His application was rejected and the judge asked Errington if he had anything to say about paying £150 court costs.

He replied: "I'm down, you might as well . . . you have kicked me once, you might as well kick me twice."

Errington produced letters from his partner, landlord, accountant and an employee to support his application.

Statements objecting to the bid were provided by Ms Emers's daughter, Karen, and the police officer who investigated the crash.

The judge told Errington: "I'm afraid inconvenience isn't sufficient to persuade the court to restore the licence at this stage."