AN ESTATE agent who crashed into a wall and left the scene of the accident blamed his girlfriend for him drink-driving.

Jack Higgs, aged 28, of Meadway, Malvern, drove home after a meal and two double gin and tonics at a Wetherspoons in the town on February 2.

Colette Orton, prosecuting, said Higgs hit a wall in Cromwell Road, causing his car to be written off, and sustaining an injury above his eye.

“He was asked if he was drunk and he ran away leaving his girlfriend at the scene,” said Ms Orton. “Officers carried out an area search and he was located at his home address. He said he did not want to drive back. (He said) ‘I didn’t want to drive, she made me drive back – I am sorry’”.

He was then breathalysed before being taken to hospital.

Samples taken at Worcestershire Royal Hospital showed he had 102 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood – the legal limit is 80mg.

Barry Newton, defending, said Higgs did not agree that he ran away from the accident but had gone home to seek help from his parents.

“Cromwell Road is 30 to 40 meters from his home address in Malvern,” Mr Newton said.

They had gone out to celebrate his girlfriend’s father’s birthday and stayed out longer than they intended, the court heard.

Mr Newton said: “He had two double measures of gin and tonic - that took him over the limit. She wanted to go home and didn’t want to wait for a taxi. He thought he was ok but he was over the limit. He is thankful his girlfriend was uninjured.”

The couple are now engaged.

The estate agent works in St John's, Worcester, and is currently attending house-viewings on his bicycle, the court heard.

Higgs pleaded guilty to drink-driving, failing to stop at the scene of a road accident and failing to surrender for a change of name and address on a driving licence when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, June 14.

For drink-driving he was fined £380 and disqualified from driving for 12 months, but was offered the chance to complete an awareness course to reduce the ban by 12 weeks.

He was ordered to pay £135 prosecution costs and a £35 victim surcharge. He was given no separate penalty for failing to surrender or for failing to stop at the scene of a road accident.