A newsagent who moved his car from his shop while three-and-a-half times over the limit turned to drink after his daughter lost her battle with cancer.

Makhan Singh, who runs Lindley Newsagents, was banned from the road for more than two years.

Kirklees magistrates heard that the incident happened around the time of his daughter’s birthday.

She would have been 26 in April but died from the disease in 2014.

The Huddersfield court was told that Singh was trying to move his Mercedes from the back of his Thornhill Avenue shop to the front on April 17.

He hit two cars, scraping off some paint, and a witness called police.

When they arrived four males standing at the roadside pointed the 52-year-old’s vehicle out.

He was still sat in the driver’s seat and the officers could immediately smell alcohol on him when they opened the car door.

Singh was unsteady on his feet and slurring his words when asked for his name.

Following a positive roadside breath test he was arrested.

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Further police station breath tests showed that he had 128 microgrammed of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

This was more than three-and-a-half times over the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.

Singh claimed that he’d had a lot of drink the previous day but felt fine to move his car the short distance.

Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Huddersfield
Kirklees Magistrates' Court, Huddersfield

Magistrates heard that he had turned to alcohol to cope following the death of his daughter, who would have celebrated her birthday on April 6.

They were told that Singh had run his own business for 26 years and also did voluntary work at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

Zahid Majeed, mitigating, said: “He resorted to alcohol as a result of his grief in the loss of his daughter.

“It was sudden after a very long battle with cancer and every day is difficult, especially around her passing and important dates such as her birthday.

“The family living room is full of pictures of his daughter and he’s still emotional and grieving.

“He accepts he needs help in dealing with his grief and alcohol is not the way forward.”

Magistrates banned Singh from driving for 29 months.

He was also given a high level community order with six months of alcohol treatment.

Singh has to pay £160 fine, £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.