Rossendale drink-driver ran off after crash (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Rossendale drink-driver ran off after crash

6:00pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in News By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

A SELF-employed landscape gardener who was almost twice the drink- drive limit crashed his car and ran off into bushes, a court was told.

Burnley magistrates heard how Lee Richard Green, 39, was said to have squared up to a police officer and offered to fight, before running off and being found in heavy undergrowth.

Green was said to have become violent, resisted arrest, and had to be knee struck, and Pava sprayed so he could be detained.

The hearing was told Green was tested and the lowest sample showed 69 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Green, of Spencer Street, Crawhawbooth, admitted driving with excess alcohol, in Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, on September 22, and resisting police. He was banned for 17 months, and fined £300, with £85 costs and a £15 victim sur-charge.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said an off-duty police officer saw that Green appeared to have lost control and hit a wall. He checked on his welfare and called the police.

Green began to walk away, squared up to the officer, and made off into the undergrowth when two officers arrived. A search was carried out and he was found.

Green had been given a conditional discharge for allegations of common assault in June.

David Leach, for Green, said he did not accept he squared up to the officer and offered to fight. The solicitor continued: “He says that just didn't happen.”

Green would say he was kicked, and Pava sprayed, when he had surrendered himself.

Green had been to visit a relative and had three pints of fairly strong lager over a number of hours. He had recently been prescribed medication.

Green’s marriage had broken down and he had found it very difficult to cope with that.

Mr Leach said: “He knows he perhaps took a calculated risk which didn’t pay off and, with hindsight, he shouldn’t have done that.”