A DRIVER involved in a high speed collision after drinking asked his front seat passenger to take responsibility, a court was told.

George Kirkup was at the wheel of the Citroen Saxo which struck a BMW on the B6291 at Park Hill, Coxhoe, near Durham.

Durham Crown Court was told Kirkup accelerated to speeds estimated in excess of 100-miles per hour prior to the accident, at 4pm on August 15.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said other motorists had to take evasive action to avoid the Saxo, while witnesses stated that Kirkup took his hands off the wheel and placed them behind his head at one stage.

But the court heard that Kirkup denied this account.

Mr Sabiston said having braked sharply approaching the nearby A1(M) interchange roundabout, Kirkup swerved on leaving it, colliding with the BMW, causing it to spin to the opposite kerb.

The driver’s side of the BMW struck a lamppost leaving the 30-year-old driver shaken and suffering back pain.

Kirkup and his front seat passenger fled across fields, leaving two female back seat passengers at the scene.

Mr Sabiston said Kirkup asked the male passenger to take the blame for the accident as he had been drinking.

Initially he did as he was asked, but Kirkup was also arrested later that evening, at an address in Quarrington Hill, near Durham.

He gave a breath test reading showing 51mg of alcohol compared to the legal limit of 35.

Kirkup still continued to deny being the driver, even after the passenger changed his story.

But having finally admitted dangerous driving at a plea hearing, 42-year-old Kirkup, now of Cleveland View, Bishop Auckland, was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

His barrister, Jane Waugh, told the court alcohol is, “at the root of all his problems”.

As part of the sentence, Recorder Andrew Campbell, therefore, passed a 12-month supervision requirement, to include six months’ alcohol treatment programme.

Kirkup was also banned from driving for three years.