Wigan motorist's drink driving charge is dropped by court

A motorist, alleged to have been caught having drunk twice the legal limit of alcohol, has walked free from court after the case against him was thrown out by Wigan justices.

Samuel Houghton, 30, of Heron’s Wharf, Appley Bridge, had denied being over the limit when charged with drink-driving after an incident in Wigan on Christmas day 2018.

It had been alleged that when he was subjected to a blood test, he was found to have 163mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

The legal limit is 80mg.

But when the part-heard hearing reappeared at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court this month, the case was dismissed on evidential grounds and Mr Houghton was told he was free to go.

A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service said afterwards: “The case of Samuel Houghton was listed as a part-heard trial on September 21.

“The prosecution case had been heard on November 25 2019 and the trial was then adjourned.

“The defence made half-time submissions and, following legal argument, the district judge ruled that the prosecution had not provided a prima facie case and dismissed the case.”

It was ruled that the defendant’s costs, including legal costs, would be paid from central funds. The amount has yet to be decided.