Dashcam footage shows drunk driver travelling almost three times over the speed limit in a busy Newcastle area

Liam O’Rourke, of Orchard Place, Jesmond, has been given a suspended prison sentence and a 14-month driving ban after he was caught speeding while under the influence of alcohol on Chillingham Road in the Heaton area of Newcastle on February 10.

Dashcam footage shows a group of pedestrians turn their heads in disbelief as the 22-year-old’s Peugeot went racing past them as he reached speeds of up to 86mph in a 30mph zone.

O’Rourke sped past a stationary police car at the next junction and officers were later able to analyse the dashcam footage to calculate how fast he was going.

Police tracked his movements and were able to pull him over in the Glendale Terrace of Byker.

A roadside check for alcohol was carried out and O’Rourke recorded a reading of 58 micrograms per 100 millitres of breach - well over the 35 micrograms limit.

On Monday, February 27, the defendant appeared before magistrates in Newcastle where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving whilst above the legal limit for alcohol.

He was handed an 18-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, alongside his driving ban.

After the 14-month ban is served, O’Rourke must pass an extended driving test before he is allowed to get behind the wheel again.

Sergeant Glen Robson, of Northumbria Police’s Operation Dragoon team, said: “The manner of driving was absolutely appalling and O’Rourke should be ashamed of his actions.

“In my 19 years of service, I can’t recall anybody travelling down that road as fast as this. It’s sheer luck that he did not kill somebody.

“Thankfully, a patrolling police car was in the area and from the dashcam footage we were able to use specialist analysis to determine O’Rourke’s speed. This is just another tool we can use in order to bring dangerous drivers to justice.

“As soon as we saw how fast he was travelling, our immediate priority was to make sure the vehicle was brought to a swift and safe stop – and thankfully we were able to do that within minutes. It came as little surprise that he was also over the legal limit for alcohol.

“We will use every single tactic at our disposal in order to tackle those who endanger the lives of others. O’Rourke’s driving was totally unacceptable – and he proved that he cannot be trusted to be behind the wheel of a car.”

Northumbria Police are advising road users who have dashcam footage showing somebody driving dangerously to submit it online via their website at https://beta.northumbria.police.uk/our-services/report-it/dashcam-submission/.