Drive ban for mercy dash barrister

Mr Robinson-Young was breathalysed near the hospital

A barrister who failed a breath test while on a mercy mission to save his suicidal friend has been banned from driving for two years.

Former policeman David Robinson-Young, 50, ferried Jane Cooper less than a mile from her home to hospital after she took a drug overdose at a dinner party, a court was told.

Robinson-Young then drove off again to search for her when she fled the hospital threatening to "kill herself properly".

The barrister was stopped by police a few hundred yards later and found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit.

Night cap

Magistrates in Gateshead heard how Robinson-Young, of St Peter's Basin, Newcastle, told police: "I only drove because I considered my friend's life was in danger."

The court heard the barrister had spent an evening at the home of Mrs Cooper and her estranged husband Martin in June last year.

They shared a meal and about three bottles of wine when the barrister drank a glass of vodka as a night-cap.

Mrs Cooper - a journalist - told Robinson-Young she had taken her second overdose of paracetamol within a week.

Second overdose

The defendant said he took her to hospital because he feared an ambulance or taxi would take too long to arrive.

He told the court on Thursday: "I took a purposeful decision that Jane's life was going to be put in serious danger unless I got her to hospital and got her treatment as soon as possible."

Referring to leaving the hospital Mrs Cooper told the court: "I said I'm not going to sit in here and die and promptly took myself off and I told them I would go and kill myself properly."

Breath test

She ran off through the hospital car park and, while Mr Cooper gave chase on foot, Robinson-Young got into his Jaguar to head her off.

A patrol car followed him out of the hospital after officers had previously noticed him with glazed eyes and slurred speech and he was arrested.

The court heard Robinson-Young had 82 mgs of alcohol per 100ml of breath and fined him £350.

He was told his ban would be reduced by six months if he agreed to go on a drink-drivers' programme.