Drunk motorist drove through Lincoln with wheel missing Published duration 17 July 2012

CCTV footage has been released showing a drunk motorist driving for a mile through Lincoln city centre with a wheel missing from his car.

Philip Dickens, 28, lost the front wheel after hitting a wall on his way into the city from his home in Witham St Hughs, eight miles away.

Police stopped the dazed motorist when he got out of the Seat Ibiza and he failed a breathalyser test.

At Lincoln Crown Court, he admitted dangerous driving and received a ban.

The court heard the IT worker was spotted by CCTV operators as he drove down Lincoln High Street with sparks coming from his car at 03:00 GMT on 10 March.

'No memory'

Dickens, who was dressed in pyjamas, had already driven seven miles before losing the wheel and then continuing into the city centre.

He was arrested after he stopped the vehicle, got out and began staggering towards the railway station.

Prosecutor Andrew Scott said the front wheel was found on the car's front passenger seat. It is thought a member of the public stopped the car and handed the wheel back.

The court was told Dickens could not remember anything about the trip.

Mr Scott said: "He came home, had his dinner and drank a bottle of wine. He went to bed at 23:00 and the next thing he remembers he is being taken by the police to hospital in an ambulance."

'Severe consequences'

He admitted dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol and was given an 18-month driving ban, a 12-month community order with supervision, 180 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £1,000 costs.

Dickens was sentenced on 10 July but the footage has just been released.

Judith Walker, from Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) East Midlands, said: "This erratic trip put himself and others in some significant danger. We can at last be thankful that nobody was hurt.