Man caught drink driving after parents call police

But Edward George, 30, won't face justice until six months after the offence while he undergoes expensive rehab.

A court heard that Edward George was 'extremely intoxicated' when he got into mum Alison's car parked outside her Sandbanks home in December last year.

The police caught up with him when he returned to the £2million Poole Harbour flat on foot and he was found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit.

Edward George, centre

Despite pleading guilty to driving offences in February, his sentencing has been delayed until June as he is spending four months in a private clinic in the Midlands to overcome his alcohol problems.

At the conclusion of his treatment experts will produce a report on his recovery that magistrates will take into consideration when he is sentenced.

Magistrates heard his family have paid for him to enter the rehab facility.

The court was told at a previous hearing that George had been staying at his parents' home following the breakdown of his relationship.

It was heard that he had a drinking problem and that in April 2021 he had been banned from driving for three years for another offence of driving with excess alcohol.

Richard Withey, prosecuting, said: "Police received a call to say the defendant had been drink driving. They attended the address of the informant, whilst they were there Mr George arrived on foot, appearing extremely intoxicated.

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"The car wasn't there. He was arrested at that point. The car was recovered at another location."

George pleaded guilty to charges of drink driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance in February.

At that hearing Mark Hensleigh, defending, asked magistrates in Poole to defer sentencing until after his counsellors could produce their report.

He said: "Mr George clearly has a problem with regards to drinking. He was staying at his parents' address, he had taken his mother's car.

"He accepts he has a problem, he admits to the driving, although no one actually saw him drive.

"Clearly he has a problem with drinking, all the offences relate to him drinking. If he doesn't drink he doesn't get in trouble.

"His family are funding him at a primary residential facility. He has made massive progress since he's been there.

"You could defer sentence for reports and so he could complete the course.

"He has no income at this time, he is fully supported by his parents. I don't know the cost of the rehab but I can't imagine it's particularly cheap to go into one of these places."

Earlier this week, George appeared in court again for sentencing but again the case was adjourned to allow him to finish his rehab.

George is due back in court again in June.

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