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Jail for drunk man who drove into Oldbury house

A drunk husband crashed his car into the marital home – where his wife was watching TV – after she refused to let him in, a court was told.

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Harvey Colledge was today behind bars after being jailed for three years and eight months.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Colledge had been refused entry to the house because he had been out drinking all day. He had earlier tried to break in by smashing a window at the back of the house in Abberley Road, Brandhall, Oldbury.

But an hour later he returned and drove his car into the house, the court heard.

Colledge, aged 44, of Railway Court, Norton Canes, Cannock, pleaded guilty to endangering a person's life and a charge of drink-driving. Mr Paul Spratt, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant has been married to the victim for 23 years but in the last three they have had difficulties.

"He had lost his job and as a result had begun drinking. On Sunday, October 13, he had tried to gain access to the marital home but was refused entry by his wife as he had been drinking.

She had seen him climb the fence and try to gain access to the house by smashing a window at the back.

"He left and his wife thought nothing more of it. About an hour later she was watching television and heard a bang."

The court heard she then saw Colledge had driven his Rover into the wall of the house.

Police were called and Colledge admitted he had driven into the house.

He was breathalysed and gave a reading of 93 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – more than double the legal limit of 35. Mr Spratt added that around £2,000 of damage had been caused.

Miss Amy Jacobs, defending, said: "He didn't wish to cause his wife any harm."

Recorder Mr Alistair Jack told Colledge he would serve half his sentence in jail. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.

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