Drink-driver caused wrecking spree after refusing to fork out £7.50 taxi fare

Declan Muers, 27, was caught on police dashcam footage with a breathalyser test showing he had 49 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath while almost three times the limit

Adam Dutton reports on a drunk driver who ran five red lights and crashed into two cars, managing to avoid jail after claiming he didn't want to pay £7.50 for a taxi fare. Declan Muers, 27, had been drinking at a nightclub but left in a huff in the early hours and decided to drive the two miles home.

Police dashcam footage shows Muers speeding through Nottingham city centre around 4am on February 18. A police patrol car spotted him driving erratically on Maid Marian Way and followed him as he ran five red lights.

Muers continued his reckless journey through the city before losing control of his blue Volkswagen Scirocco and crashing into two parked cars on Hungerhill Road. The lout tried to escape on foot but was apprehended by officers a short distance away.

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A breathalyser test revealed he had 49 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mcg. Muers was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre for a cut head before being arrested and taken into custody.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop when required by a police constable and drink-driving. Muers, from Mapperley, received a 16-month sentence, suspended for two years at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday (7/10).

He was also banned from driving for two years, given a four-month curfew and told to complete 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days.

PC Fraser Heaton, of Nottinghamshire Police, commented: "Muers showed a clear disregard for the safety of others by driving dangerously through a city centre in poor weather conditions."

"He was in no fit state to be behind the wheel of a car and it is fortunate he didn’t cause harm to another road user or pedestrian."

"He was also extremely lucky not to have sustained a more serious injury himself after losing control and crashing into two parked vehicles."

"During his police interview, he told us he’d been drinking in a nightclub and left after becoming angry about something that had happened."

"He should have got a taxi home but seemingly didn’t want to pay a fare."

"Now he’s paid a heftier price in court with the loss of his driver's licence."