A DRINK driver who crashed into a parked car while he was driving his ex-partner’s car has been jailed.

Pavel Bepersc was more than twice the legal limit when police were called by the owner of the other vehicle when he could smell alcohol on his breath.

The 36-year-old had narrowly avoided an immediate custodial sentence last September when he was convicted of causing actual bodily harm to his ex-partner during a domestic abuse incident.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the Lithuanian national was given a suspended 47-week prison sentence and made subject to a five-year restraining order to protect the woman.

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Uzma Khan, prosecuting, said Bepsersc was arrested after crashing the VW Touran on Nickstream Lane, Darlington, before heading his ex-partner’s nearby house.

She said: “He was seen to move forward and make contact with the Vauxhall Astra, which was parked up. Damage was caused to the wing mirror, rear panel and the driver door was difficult to open.

“The defendant immediately comes over to the driver of the vehicle, smells alcohol upon him and contacts the police.”

Miss Khan said Bepersc was acting in an erratic manner asking the car owner ‘if he should run away’ before heading to his ex-partner’s home to say goodbye to the children and use bathroom.

The court heard how then returned to the scene of the accident and was subsequently arrested and charged with a number of offences.

Miss Khan said the defendant was convicted of causing actual bodily harm on his ex-partner and was given a suspended sentence in September last year.

Bepersc pleaded guilty to drink driving, breaching a suspended sentence order, and breaching a restraining order.

Jennifer Coxon, in mitigation, said her client had experienced a ‘wake-up call’ after being remanded in custody since the crash on April 13 this year and urged the judge to pass a suspended sentence to enable him to tackle his alcohol problem.

She said: “He has now lost everything and he knows he needs to work with Alcoholics Anonymous, alcohol is a huge problem in his life.”

Recorder Christopher Williams sentenced Bepersc to a total of six months in custody after activating part of his suspended sentence.

He said: “I take the view that the proper approach here because the custody threshold is crossed that for the offence of driving with excess alcohol that a modest period of custody can be justified and that period is for 28 days.

“You could have no complaint if I activated all 47 weeks (for the suspended sentence) but I am going to reduce it 26 weeks. For the breach of the restraining order, I would be minded to add 28 days.

“As a matter of mercy, I am going to order that the sentences run concurrent.”

Bepersc, of Warwick Square, Darlington, was also banned from driving form 21 months.

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