A Ryton motorist has been disqualified from driving after he approached a passing police officer for assistance when a temporary wheel fell off his car, a magistrates' court heard. The incident on Woodside Lane resulted in the discovery that the driver was over the legal alcohol limit and had no insurance.
How the officer became involved
The defendant, 57-year-old Robert Bragason of Greenfields, Ryton, was driving a Mini Cooper when the vehicle’s temporary wheel detached. He asked a passer-by to help move the car to safety not realising the passer-by was a police officer, who noticed the smell of alcohol.
"It seems the car only had three wheels because the fourth was a temporary wheel, which had detached itself,"
The officer detained Bragason while calling for further assistance. A roadside breath test was failed and a subsequent evidential breath test produced a reading of 85mcg per 100ml of breath, more than double the legal limit of 35mcg.
Court outcome and penalties
Bragason pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and driving without insurance at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. He was handed a driving disqualification and financial penalties.
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Driving with excess alcohol | 21 months disqualification |
| Financial penalties | £120 fine; £85 costs; £48 victim surcharge |
| Breath measurement | 85mcg (limit: 35mcg) |
Local context and implications
While the immediate cause of the stop was a mechanical failure, the case underlines the layered risks that can make a routine roadside problem a criminal matter. For Gateshead residents it is a reminder that:
- driving without insurance remains an offence with clear consequences;
- being over the alcohol limit can be established even when a driver seeks help for a breakdown;
- temporary or makeshift repairs that fail on the move can create hazardous situations and attract police attention.
The driver’s legal representative told the court the wheel fell off while he was driving and that he had simply asked for help, but that explanation did not alter the recorded breath result or the lack of insurance. The sentence reflects those two separate offences: impaired driving and uninsured use of a vehicle.
Magistrates imposed a 21-month driving ban, a fine of £120, costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £48.
Incidents of this kind are routinely dealt with in local courts. Drivers in Gateshead are advised to ensure vehicles are roadworthy, properly insured and that they do not drive after consuming alcohol.
