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Drunk driver who hit family is jailed

A drunk driver who ploughed into a man and two children while driving two-and-a-half times over the limit and with one of his arms in plaster has been locked up.

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Audrunas Cizauskas lost control of his car in Wolverhampton city centre and mounted the pavement, hitting the father and his nine and four-year-old children.

The 33 year old stopped at the scene in Powlett Street, near Ring Road St George on October 20, for a short while before driving away.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard on Monday how he was quickly caught after police were given the registration number of his BMW by a witness.

Mr Patrick Sullivan, prosecuting, said Cizauskas, from Cornwall Road, Tettenhall, was obviously "the worse for drink" and had his right arm in plaster when officers arrived at his home soon afterwards.

A breath test showed the defendant had 90 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath when the legal limit is 35, the court was told. He claimed he had drunk just one pint but inquiries at the pub he had visited disclosed he had downed at least three.

The casualties all amazingly escaped serious injury and were sent home from hospital with painkillers within an hour of arriving at the emergency department, added Mr Sullivan.

Mr Gurdeep Garcha, defending, said: "He has been driving since he was 18 and this was an isolated mistake. Mercifully no serious injury was caused from what was effectively one bad manoeuvre. If he had stopped and helped the victims it would have made his position easier but unfortunately he drove off."

Cizauskas admitted driving dangerously, with excess alcohol and without insurance, and was jailed for 10 months. He was also banned from driving for two years and will have to pass an extended test before getting his licence back.

Recorder Nigel Baker QC said the incident could have ended much worse.

"What could have been an absolute tragedy, no thanks to you, turned out to be not too serious but you must have known what you did on this occasion was very serious indeed. You did not stop when you must have been aware you had struck this man and his children," Mr Baker added.

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