A DRINK driver deliberately crashed on the Mersey Gateway Bridge while more than three times over the limit.

Christopher Leigh, from Northwich, was convicted of drink driving for a fourth time after getting behind the wheel intoxicated and smashing his van into the central reservation in a suicide attempt.

Warrington Magistrates Court heard on Thursday, March 31, that emergency services were called to the scene after a collision involving the 34-year-old’s Vauxhall Vivaro van.

The incident on Wednesday, March 2, caused ‘significant damage’ to the barrier between the two carriageways while the defendant suffered a head injury.

He was found slumped over the steering wheel and failed a roadside breath test before being rushed to hospital and then being transported onwards to custody.

There, Leigh gave a lowest read of 113 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath – the legal limit being 35mg.

The alcoholic, of Queen Street, told police under interview that he had ‘got drunk due to stress’ before crashing in an attempt to take his own life.

He has seven previous convictions for 11 offences including three for drink driving in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

Leigh admitted drink driving during an earlier hearing and was handed an 18-week imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Sentencing, district judge Nicholas Sanders said: “There’s no question in my mind that this offence combined with your previous convictions make it so serious that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.

“The real question is whether I can safely suspend that sentence.

“I have to be satisfied that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.

“There has been a positive change – where you are at the moment is a factor I can take into account.

“Provided you commit no further offences and comply in full, you won’t go to prison.

“If you choose not to do it or commit any other offences, you will lose that option and you will go to prison.

“You have come very close to serving an immediate sentence.

“There’s a good chance you will sort yourself out – you’ve got to stop drinking, that’s the key to it.”

Leigh was banned from driving for five years, handed a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days and ordered to serve a six-month alcohol treatment programme.

He must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work and pay a £128 victim surcharge plus £85 in court costs.