A FORMER police sergeant who flipped his car and crashed into school railings just after home time was nearly four times the drink-drive limit.

Magistrates said it was lucky he had not been driving past the school earlier in the day, or the incident could have been much more serious.

Geoffrey Chandler, of Fulthorpe Avenue, Darlington, lost control of his car not far from his home, and outside Mowden Infant and Junior Schools, at 4.05pm on February 8.

The court heard from the school that the incident was about three-quarters of an hour after school finishing time and there were fortunately no children in the immediate vicinity at the time.

The 55-year-old is a retired police officer who The Northern Echo understands worked in Cleveland Police's Professional Standards Department.

Chandler pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe yesterday.

Joanne Hesse, prosecuting, said police were called to reports of a road traffic collision and found the defendant's vehicle had crashed and landed at the perimeter fence of the school.

He was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital for treatment for minor injuries after being freed from his car by firefighters. There was said to be no risk of injury to pupils at the time he crashed.

The court was told that Chandler was receiving help from the North East Council on Addictions (NECA).

His alcohol levels were 291mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.

Stephen Andrews, mitigating, said Chandler was extremely remorseful, and the incident was completely out of character.

Several character references were given to the court, including from charities he has raised funds for.

Chairman of the bench Patrick Langdon said: "Mr Chandler, this is a straightforward case on the surface. You have pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to the offence of drink-driving.

"We have also read a note from NECA.

"What that amounts to is you are obviously a good person but you have done something very seriously wrong.

"It is the offence that we are sentencing.

"We see no reason to go away from a suspended custodial sentence.

"The level of alcohol in that reading was exceptionally high. There was an accident so the standard of driving was seriously flawed.

"I very much doubt that you planned to be there (at the school) at that time, given your drunken state, and had it been slightly earlier it would have been a very different outcome."

He said Chandler's mitigation for the offence had been about his personal life, rather than any mitigation with regards to the offence itself.

"There must be an unusual level of remorse because of your circumstances and background," Mr Langdon added.

Chandler was given an eight-week suspended prison sentence and was banned from driving for 30 months. He was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.