Insurance Broker's £30K Drink-Drive Smash

A Porsche-driving Lloyds insurance broker's career is in ruins after he crashed into three parked cars - leaving a £30,000 trail of wreckage in his wake after a lunchtime City drinking-session.

Father-of-three Darren Conlon, 44, (pic.top) was nearly twice the drink-drive limit when he collided with the vehicles in his 911 Turbo - ripping off his front wheel on impact.

He fled the scene of carnage on foot, swinging a punch in the direction of one chasing victim, as he tried to get to his apartment in the shadow of the Gherkin building.

Conlon, of Creechurch Lane escaped prison with a suspended sentence, but still faces the prospect of the Financial Services Authority stripping him of his licence, which allows him to work in his industry.

"It is clear the whole incident was caused by excess alcohol over a considerable period of time," bench chairman Mr. Terry Rodgers told Conlon at City of London Magistrates' Court.

"The reading was still nearly twice the limit some considerable time after you stopped drinking.

"You were completely out of it when you decided to drive your car nearer your home. It is surprising no injury was caused to a pedestrian or road user and it is lucky no-one was seriously injured or worse."

Conlon pleaded guilty to driving his Porsche, which sported personalised 'REN' number plate's, dangerously and with excess alcohol in his blood in Bury Street on July 14 and failing to stop after causing three accidents.

He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years, ordered to perform 150 hours community service, disqualified from driving for twenty-two months and ordered to pay £85 costs.

Prosecutor Mrs Varinder Hayre told the court it was 6:20pm when Conlon's Porsche collided with three parked cars, first a Lexus followed by an Audi and Vauxhall Astra van whose driver was nearby.

"The victim was sitting outside the Gherkin building when he heard a loud bang and an engine revving and saw the Porsche's front passenger-side wheel fly off followed by the rear passenger side tyre which bounced into the road.

"He saw the driver get out of the car and he appeared to stagger backwards and sideways and made off.

"The victim and another member of the public tried to stop him at which point Mr. Conlon turned and tried to punch the man whose van was damaged.

"He did this by swinging at the man with a clenched fist, but missed him. The victim said he was shaken up and frightened by the whole incident."

Conlon was arrested soon afterwards in the hallway of his apartment building and officers immediately smelled alcohol on his breath.

He "grunted and nodded" when asked if he had been in an accident a later gave a blood alcohol reading of 157 milligrammes - the legal limit is 80.

The Nexus repair bill for damage plus car hire for the owner totalled £23,500; the Audi needed £1,400 in repairs and the Astra van £5,900.

"He said he remembered drinking in the New Moon pub, Leadenhall Market and recalled having four pints of Fosters and two vodka and tonics and after that feeling 'funny'," explained Mrs Hayre.

"He said he did not remember going to get his car, but did remember a crash and running while feeling he was being chased."

Conlon stopped drinking at 3pm and got behind the wheel three hours later.

Remarkably, the defendant's insurance policy will cover the entire compensation bill despite him being over the limit.

He told the magistrates: "I would like to apologise to the victims for any distress caused. I apologise to the court, I am sorry for my actions. It was out of character."

Conlon's lawyer Mr. Scott Osbourne said: "Before you is a professional hardworking man who has made a series of poor decisions and ironically is an insurance broker.

"He is deeply embarrassed and disgusted and this has caused considerable strain on his marriage after he had to explain to his wife what happened.

"He also has to explain to his three young children why daddy cannot drive them to and from their daily activities."

Conlon has sons aged sixteen months, eight and eleven years and the oldest two attend private school.

"He recognises what he did was entirely wrong," added Mr. Osbourne. "This was an absolute aberration.

"He has written a letter to all the owners expressing his horror and remourse at what he has done and has admitted full liability."

Conlon denies aiming a punch at the victim, insisting he simply turned around when grabbed from behind.

The Astra van claim was settled for £11,000 and the two others are in the process of being settled.

The court heard self-confessed car enthusiast Conlon's regular business travel to the USA may be effected by the convictions.

Mr. Rodgers added: "You did not wait, but tried to get away and turned and tried to execute a punch, which luckily did not make any contact.

"We accept your behaviour was out of character and you have good support from your employer and have co-operated with the police and shown remourse.

"You have also contacted your victims and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity."

The magistrates also ordered Conlon to pass an extended driving test before his licence can be returned at the end of the disqualification.