A 34-YEAR-old man who grabbed the wheel of a car his dad was driving before causing a crash was told it was fortunate there had not been a "catastrophic end" to his crime.
James Jones, of Borrowdale Road, Malvern, was sentenced at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday, (June 2).
Sarah Hurd, prosecuting, reminded the court of the defendant's crime at the start of the hearing.
Magistrates heard Jones, on October 11 last year, grabbed the wheel of a Peugeot leading to the crash which took place on the A441 Evesham Road near Alcester.
Magistrates heard Jones had been drunk at the time leading to the police arresting him for drink driving.
The evidential sample of breath Jones gave to police after arrest was 121mcg in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mcg.
Jones also damaged his dad's Peugeot in the crash.
Jones had previously admitted causing a danger to road users, driving a motor vehicle when his alcohol level above limit, using a motor vehicle without insurance or a licence, and causing criminal damage.
The prosecutor added Jones had a previous conviction for obstructing a police officer.
Jones, defending himself, said he agreed with the recommendation of the probation service in his pre-sentence report for him to receive a community order.
Katherine Maynereid, defending during a previous hearing, had explained, although not sitting behind the wheel, Jones had been in control of the vehicle by grabbing the wheel.
Mrs Maynereid said: "He has mental health issues, he has issues with his dad, and alcohol is also an issue."
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After a lengthy deliberation magistrates returned to the courtroom announcing they agreed with the probation service's recommendations.
Simon Freebairn, chairman of the magistrates bench, told Jones it was a serious matter which could have resulted in a "catastrophic end" as courts had seen similar life-ending incidents.
But, the chairman said, his offending was not serious enough for jail and they recognised Jones could not have had full control of the vehicle at the time as he was not sitting in the driver's seat.
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Jones was given a 12-month community order which included 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and an alcohol treatment requirement programme of 120 days.
He was disqualified from driving for a year.
Jones was also fined £246, ordered to pay his dad £300 compensation, court costs of £135 and victim surcharge of £114.
His offer to pay the full amount, £795, at a rate of £75 a month was accepted by the magistrates.
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