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Drink-driving dad fled crash scene after 12-year relationship breakdown

Warehouse worker Samuel Lovatt has 35k debts

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Samuel Lovatt has been banned from driving

A drink-driver who failed to stop after crashing into another motorist has been banned from the roads. Samuel Lovatt blew twice the legal limit during his arrest on May 29 last year.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the 32-year-old had been struggling to accept the end of his 12-year relationship. Lovatt began consuming a mix of alcohol and antidepressants, which caused a change in his behaviour.

The young dad then smashed his grey Audi A3 into an unsuspecting silver Hyundai Tuscon.

Prosecutor Kyle Padley told the court: The victim was rear-ended by another car which was being driven by the defendant. He failed to stop at the scene. The defendant then entered the property of a female through the back garden. He went up the stairs and threw the car keys on the bed.

The defendant told the woman hed been in an accident. She called 999. She did not live far from the scene of the accident. Officers arrived and found the defendant who was clearly under the influence. He admitted he had been drinking earlier that afternoon. A breath test was performed and he blew 78 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. This is over the prescribed legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

Officers arrested the defendant and took him into custody. He began punching the walls of his cell before smearing his blood over them. Police had to enlist specialist cleaners at a cost of 195.

Lovatt, of Woodhall Place, Newcastle, was convicted of drink-driving, failure to stop, and causing criminal damage.

Probation service officer Nick Sutton advised the court that Lovatt is a strong candidate for community rehabilitation. He added that unpaid work may not be suitable as Lovatt is currently around 35,000 in debt.

Mr Sutton explained: "He was suffering with depression and had been prescribed sertraline. Unfortunately, as we have heard in this court before, he mixed that with alcohol which caused a change in his behaviour.

He has since gone back to the GP to change his medication and completed a programme with Staffordshire Treatment and Recovery Service. He no longer consumes alcohol. His risk of reoffending is tied to his use of alcohol.

He was driving a relatively new car which he had only owned for a month. His insurance paid out for the damages caused to the other vehicle, but it didnt pay out for the damages to his vehicle. This left him with significant debt.

Scott Ashdown, mitigating, said that Lovatt had been acting out of character and had since worked to rectify his behaviour.

He explained: He is 32 years old and of previous good character. It appears to have been a combination of factors causing a maelstrom. He acted to address his issues before the intervention of the probation service, which shows a great deal of responsibility on his part. That is a very significant factor to consider. It demonstrates that he wants to sort out these problems, move on, and live his life.

He has been living with his mother and working at a warehouse to pay off his debts. He struggled to pay my fees, but I want to see him do well so I have given him a chance. I ask your worships to give him a chance too.

Lovatt was slapped with a 20-month driving ban alongside a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation days and a 120-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement. He must pay 709 costs.

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