A drink-driving history teacher made a “massive mistake” after he smashed into a parked car which then shunted into two other cars. Thomas McKay will keep his jobs despite the conviction for his actions behind the wheel of his Toyota Yaris.
McKay, who teaches at Loughborough Grammar School, collided with the vehicles in Birstall’s Wanlip Lane on Monday, June 17 last year. The 41-year-old, who claimed to have had a “few cans” of alcohol, failed a roadside breathtest at the scene and was arrested by Leicestershire Police.
After being taken to a police station, a blood test showed the history teacher was more than twice the drink-driving limit. He had a reading of 167mg of alcohol per litre of blood and the legal limit is 80mg.
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The collision happened late at night in Wanlip Lane, Birstall
(Image: Google)
Outlining the case at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (January 2), prosecutor Sally Bedford said: “The defendant collided with a parked vehicle and caused a shunt and three vehicles were involved. The police attended and he told them he had had a few cans to drink. A roadside breath test indicated he was over the limit and he was arrested and taken to a police station.”
Mike Diez, representing McKay, told the court his client had been a history teacher at Loughborough Grammar School since 2014. He said McKay also gave up his Saturdays to volunteer as the Year 7 rugby coach.
Mr Diez said: “He made a massive mistake. He was under a lot of pressure at work and was feeling low. But he makes it clear that was not an excuse for what he did.”
Court was handed a reference by Mr Diez from the school’s head of history, who described the incident as “very out of character” for McKay. He said the school was keeping him on despite the conviction and was giving him counselling. A seperate reference from McKay’s counsellor was also handed to the magistrates, who were asked to consider a ban of at least 17 months due to the high alcohol reading.
McKay, who pleaded guilty to drink-driving, was banned from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £692 fine, a £277 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.