A senior building surveyor found slumped in his car was more than five times over the drink-drive limit, a court heard.

One hour earlier, 40-year-old Graham Bullock had staggered into an off-licence and bought bottles of wine.

Bullock was so drunk that another customer had to help him to open the door — and was then horrified to see him get into his car.

The customer followed him before ringing the police who discovered his silver Toyota Avensis parked in Hilltop Road, Walkden.

Prosecutor Matthew Siddall said Bullock had been unable to stand.

Bullock began “shaking uncontrollably” and officers were so concerned that they took him to Salford Royal Hospital for a check-up.

On being released, he provided a reading of 191 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – in excess of five times the limit of 35mg.

“I have never come across a reading so high,” said Mr Siddall at Manchester City magistrates’ court.

Bullock, of Shearwater Drive, Walkden, was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and 300 hours unpaid work.

He admitted driving with excess alcohol on November 29 and was banned for three years and ordered to attend a drivers’ impaired by alcohol programme.

Chairman of the bench Mr Michael Simon said: “What you did crosses the custody threshold by a long chalk.

“The reading was off the scale by a long way — it passed everything”.

Probation officer Mrs Jackie Ledger said Bullock had suffered stress after the break-up of his 19-year relationship with a woman, adding: “His drinking escalated over several months and he cannot remember how much he drank on the night in question.”

Mrs Ledger added: “He was trying to sleep in his car and he is fully aware of the damage he could have caused.”


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In court, Bullock, never previously in trouble, said he was “totally appalled and horrified with myself.

“I realise the jeopardy I potentially placed other people in. I have let down my family and work colleagues. I am so sorry.”

Bullock was also ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £80 surcharge.