Totally Blotto: Newcastle Drink Driver Blew Almost FIVE Times Legal Limit

A Newcastle man was so drunk it's amazing he was able to even to sit in his car, let alone drive it through rush hour traffic on a busy dual carriageway.

Thomas Monkhouse, 38, of Chester Street, Shieldfield, admitted driving a motor vehicle when the amount of alcohol in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit when he appeared recently at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.

This is an offence contrary to section 5(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or a fine at level 5 (unlimited) on summary conviction.

Magistrates heard that a concerned member of the public reported Monkhouse's manner of driving on the early evening of Friday, 29th August 2025.

Lauren Fisher, prosecuting, said: "She said the defendant was driving west along the Coast Road. She noticed the defendant appeared to mount on to the central reservation, narrowly missing contact with the barrier.

"He then crossed three lanes of traffic. He continued to swerve between lanes and drive erratically. The witness contacted the police and provided details to them. Officers attend and arrest the defendant."

Monkhouse was taken to Etal Lane police station, where he provided an evidential specimen containing 171 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - just under five times the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes.

James Rickerby, mitigating, told the court that his client, who has no previous convictions, had severe depression.

"On the day in question, it was a particularly hard day for him. He had been drinking before driving a really short distance," said Mr Rickerby.

"He accepts that's wrong and he's got genuine remorse."

Mr Rickerby told the court that Monkhouse had sought assistance from his GP and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Addressing the defendant, Reverend George Curry JP, Presiding Justice, said: "The top bracket for our guidelines is a breath reading of 120-150. You are 171 - that's 21 above our top bracket of Sentencing Guidelines."

Magistrates ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Monkhouse was granted unconditional bail until his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, 6th January 2026.

In the meantime, he was made subject to an interim driving disqualification.

A reading of 171 microgrammes might well be the largest to have featured here on Magistrates' Blog. It is firmly in custodial territory. The evidence of associated poor driving is an aggravating feature, which is offset slightly by the fact it was a relatively short journey.

Given Monkhouse's previous good character and apparent mental health difficulties, which are always a big consideration for the court, I suggest it is unlikely he will receive an immediate custodial sentence.

TikTok Influencer Convicted of Dangerous Driving

Subtitle: Yet another social media muppet falls foul of the law.

TikTok influencer HSTikkyTokky, real name Harrison Sullivan, 24, admitted dangerous driving and driving without valid third party insurance when he appeared at Staines Magistrates' Court on Friday, 24th October 2025.

Sullivan failed to surrender to Guildford Magistrates' Court in relation to these offences on Tuesday, 26th November 2024. A warrant was issued for his arrest and Essex Police launched a media appeal into his whereabouts. After almost a year on the run, having visited several foreign countries along the way, he finally turned himself in on Friday, 10th October 2025.

Dangerous driving is an offence under section 2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. It has a maximum sentence of 2 years' custody and/or an unlimited fine on conviction on indictment; 12 months' custody and/or an unlimited fine on summary conviction.

Sullivan was remanded in custody until his sentencing on Friday, 14th November 2025.

Teesside Gas Engineer Did Dangerous Work

A cowboy gas engineer carried out shoddy work despite being unregistered to do so.

Neil Burton, 41, of Harrogate Crescent, Middlesbrough, admitted two gas safety offences when he appeared at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 7th October 2025.

Regulations 3(1) and 3(3) of The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 require that anyone undertaking gas fitting work should be competent to do so, having been approved by the Health and Safety Executive (e.g. on the Gas Safe register).

The court heard that Burton ticked neither of these boxes when he serviced boilers in Stockton-on-Tees in May 2021 and April 2022. Furthermore, the work he did at those properties was found to be substandard and potentially dangerous.

An HSE investigation confirmed that Burton had also carried out work at properties in Middlesbrough in 2022 and 2023, despite not being competent or registered. This included the replacement of a gas hob and the disconnection of a gas fire.

Burton had previously been Gas Safe registered, but had allowed his membership and qualifications to lapse.

He was sentenced to 6 months' custody suspended for 12 months, with the requirement that he completes 150 hours' unpaid work.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Darian Dundas said: "All gas work must be carried out by registered Gas Safe engineers to ensure the highest standards are met and to prevent injury or loss of life.

"The public should always ask to see a gas engineer's identification and check their registration number online."

Dorset Man Intended to Cut Cheese with Axe

A Dorset man told the court that he was carrying an axe in Weymouth town centre because he wanted to cut some cheese with it.

Michael Doucas, 33, of Lennox Street, Weymouth, denied possession of a bladed article in a public place, but was convicted following a recent trial at Weymouth Magistrates' Court.

Possession of a bladed or sharply pointed article in a public place is an offence under section 139(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. The offence, which is triable either way, has a maximum sentence of 12 months' custody on summary conviction; 4 years' custody on conviction on indictment.

Section 139(4) of the Act provides that it will be a defence for a person to prove that they had good reason or lawful authority for possession of the article. It was on this basis that Doucas denied the allegation.

It's a bit of a strange one this one.

Magistrates heard that a local taxi driver saw Doucas sauntering down the street - axe in one hand, beer in the other - on the afternoon of Tuesday, 12th August 2025.

Clearly concerned at the situation, it being a busy summer day, the driver reported the matter to the police. Officers later attended Doucas' property and ultimately he was arrested in relation to the axe and other matters.

Enquiries later revealed that Doucas had purchased the axe at B&Q shortly before he was spotted by the taxi driver. He said that he had removed it from the carrier bag because it was a poor fit.

Doucas claimed in interview that he had purchased the axe to eat cheese, which was a particular habit of his.

I'll not spoil the rest of the story, which you'll find on the Dorset Echo website.