Drunk Chesterfield driver caught sounding horn “constantly” after Euros match

Just after midnight on July 4 following England’s victory Lee Nuttall, 43, was seen driving “quickly” as Chesterfield’s streets were filled with people “in various states of intoxication”.

Prosecutor Ben Payne told Chesterfield Magistrates Court Nuttall was sounding his horn for “five seconds” at a time - instead of slowing down for drunken revellers.

Moments later a police patrol car following Nuttall saw him beeping at a taxi directly in front for not moving quickly enough as traffic lights changed from red to green.

As police pulled the defendant over in his white Fiat Punto they noticed “straight away” he was “slurring his words” with “glazed” eyes and was “not focusing” on officers.

Having admitted just having a drink at “The Vic” Nuttall was placed in the police car - having failed the roadside breath test.

However he then refused to put on his seatbelt and threatened to “kick off and smash the car up”.

After handcuffing sloshed Nuttall officers “immediately” heard “two loud smashes” - the sound of him banging against the Audi A4 window with the metal bindings.

He was later found to have ripped tinting covering the window - causing £69 damage.

Magistrates heard the defendant had one previous conviction for drink driving – however this dated back to 2011.

Nuttall’s solicitor John Wilford said his client claimed the taxi driver was on the phone when he sounded his horn.

Speaking about the damage to the police car he said: “There was a female friend with him in the car when he was arrested who intervened and had to be pushed back - that clearly agitated him.

“He says he was trying to attract her attention when he banged on the windows and caused the damage.”

Nuttall, of Knighton Street, North Wingfield, admitted drink driving and criminal damage.

He was banned from driving for 14 months, fined £120, made to pay £69 compensation, £85 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

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