Drink

Jul 13, 2023

Uber Eats delivery driver Cristi Ion was pulled over after officers saw his vehicle clipping a curb in Newcastle's West End

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A drink-driver's car twice began to roll after he forgot to put the handbrake on when he was pulled over by police.

Uber Eats deliver driver, Cristi Ion, was travelling in his BMW through Newcastle's West End when he was spotted by officers clipping a curb. A court heard that, as a result, the 34-year-old dad was followed and brought to a stop on Elswick Row, in Arthur's Hill.

However, when Ion was asked to get out the car and into the police van, the constables saw that the his vehicle began to roll and the Romanian National seemed unaware he'd forgotten to put his handbrake on. When the vehicle started rolling for a second time, one of the officers had to jump in and pull the brake on, prosecutors said.

Read More: Ashington drink-driver took pal's car and ploughed it into pick-up truck before fleeing scene

Now, Ion, of Gravelly Lane, in Birmingham, has lost his licence and his delivery job after he pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. He was fined £120, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge and was banned from the roads for 15 months.

Michael Lawson, prosecuting, said police spotted Ion's BMW travelling from the West Road to Elswick Row on July 18 this year. Mr Lawson continued: "While they followed it, they noticed it had struck a nearside curb and they were, therefore, concerned that the driver was under the influence and caused the vehicle to come to a safe stop.

"The defendant is identified and asked to turn his vehicle off and sit in the police vehicle. As he did so, his own vehicle began to roll and the defendant seemed unaware and had to be alerted to put on his handbrake. This happened again and then the handbrake was safely applied."

The court heard that Ion appeared drunk and was arrested after failing a roadside breath test. He later gave a reading of 55mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when the legal limit is just 35mcg.

John Wesencraft, defending, said Ion was a married dad-of-two and the main breadwinner in the family as a delivery driver, working for both a local company in Birmingham and Uber Eats. Mr Wesencraft added: "He had come to the Newcastle area to see some friends and they had had some drinks.

"He doesn't normally drink but did on this occasion. Not realising that he was over the drink-drive limit, he set-off to drive to his accommodation."