A MAN has admitted causing the death of a friend by dangerous driving, while over the drink-drive limit.

Adam Lawrence McLoughlin was at the wheel of the Volkswagen Bora Sport which struck a telegraph pole while being pursued by police, on the B6309 Ebchester Bank, near Consett, County Durham, in the early hours of Tuesday June 24.

His passenger, Adam Parker Wilkinson, suffered serious injuries in the collision, at a junction on a steep section of the bank, opposite St Mary’s Convent.

The 49-year-old father-of-two, from Consett, a businessman who previously owned a car transporting company, was confirmed dead at the scene.

Thirty-two-year-old McLoughlin, of Ritsons Road, Blackhill, Consett, was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary for treatment for injuries suffered on impact.

He was subsequently charged with causing Mr Wilkinson’s death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol.

Making his first appearance in the case at Durham Crown Court today (Thursday October 2), McLoughlin pleaded ‘guilty’ to both charges.

His barrister, Liam O’Brien, asked for a background report to be drawn up on the defendant, by the Probation Service, prior to sentence.

Mr O’Brien confirmed that although toxicology tests taken after the accident revealed the presence of both alcohol and morphine in a sample of McLoughlin’s blood, he admitted only having been drinking prior to the accident.

He said the morphine was not taken as a recreational drug, but was administered when the defendant was treated on admission to hospital.

Nicholas Day, prosecuting, said there was cctv footage available to be played at the sentencing hearing, should it be required.

“It shows the defendant and the deceased in a Tesco supermarket quite a while.

“There’s a segment where they are shopping for alcohol.”

The court was told it seemed to reflect some form of “foolish behaviour” involving the men prior to the police pursuit.

Police were summoned to the Tesco car park in Consett at 11.50pm on June 23 as the behaviour of two men was said to be causing concern.

The police pursuit of the Bora followed minutes later after an instruction to the driver to pull over met without response.

Adjourning sentence in the case for four weeks, Judge Christopher Prince said it would give Mr Wilkinson’s family the opportunity, should they wish, to make victim personal statements to be presented to the court.

He remanded McLoughlin in custody prior to the sentencing hearing, which he provisionally fixed for Friday October 31.