Newcastle drink driver who crashed into parked car on Grey Street was nearly three times over the limit
Richard Sestakova, 20, didn't hold a driving licence or have insurance
by Kali Lindsay · ChronicleLiveA drink driver who was nearly three times the legal limit failed to stop for police before crashing into a parked vehicle.
Richard Sestakova, 20, was spotted by an officer on patrol driving when he stalled a VW Passat near Byker Metro station in August this year. Officers followed Sestakova and turned on their blue lights and sirens but the defendant did not stop, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Sestakova was unable to drive at speed or in a straight line, the court was told, and turned onto Grey Street, where he collided with a parked vehicle. The defendant eventually came to a stop when he reached a dead end, the court was told.
A breath test show Sestakova, of Hedlam Street, Newcastle, had 93 micrograms of alcohol in 100 ml of breath - nearly three times the legal limit.
Matthew Hopkins, prosecuting, said: "It was about midnight on August 11, 2024 that police officers on mobile patrol saw the defendant driving a VW Passat. He stalled the car and then drove off at very high speed near Byker Metro station.
"The officers followed and activated their lights and sirens of the police vehicle. The defendant made no attempt to stop and drove away. The defendant was clearly unable to maintain a straight line or drive at speed.
"The officers following didn't have pursuit authority so turned the sirens and light off and held back. They then saw the defendant make a right turn into a residential area and crashed into a parked car, causing its bumper to be ripped off.
"He then continued to drive towards a dead end and stopped. Police officers following got out and detained him."
The court heard there was a passenger in the car and the defendant had no licence or insurance to drive.
In mitigation, the court heard Sestakova had a lot of growing up to do and had made his "biggest mistake" in life to date.
Sestakova pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving over the prescribed limit of alcohol and driving without insurance. He was sentenced to 40 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months, and was disqualified from driving for two years.
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