Cocaine-fuelled police officer was nearly three times the drink-drive limit when he crashed his VW Golf into garden, court hears

A cocaine-fuelled police officer was nearly three times the drink-drive limit when he crashed his VW Golf into a garden, a court has heard. 

Trainee PC Joel Lee, 27, had been on a night out with friends when he made the 'stupid decision' to drive one of them home.

Manchester Magistrates' Court heard how Lee, who had only joined Merseyside Police three months earlier, was driving his VW Golf on Queens Drive, Liverpool, in November 2023 when he lost control.

Suzanna Ludlow, prosecuting, said the officer was driving at around 7am when his vehicle 'collided with a metal barrier and through a garden wall'.

He was given a roadside breath test which showed he had 80 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres.

Trainee PC Joel Lee, 27, (pictured) was nearly three times the drink-drive limit when he crashed his VW Golf into a garden, a court has heard

Ms Ludlow said an 'aggravating feature' of the case was the drugs in his system.

Lee had turned to drink and cocaine after the break-up of a five-year relationship caused by his 'cheating' fiancee, the court heard. 

'The defendant describes that he had some problem with excess drinking and there was recreational use of cocaine,' said Mr Hogan, defending.

'This appears to extend from the break-up of a relationship.

'He was engaged for five years and discovered his partner was cheating on him and that seems to have sent him on a path of drinking heavily.' 

Mr Hogan said Lee now attends counselling sessions once a week.

He said Lee had previously worked in the hotel industry but had had 'ambitions' to join the police as a trainee officer. He accepted his career was 'now up in flames'.

Mr Hogan said Lee had been on a night out with a group of friends but had carried on drinking when he got home at 3am, and then made the 'stupid decision' to drive one friend home.

He said Lee had lost his good name and character and had shown 'remorse and insight' into his actions.

Lee, of Liverpool, had previously pleaded guilty to two charges of drink and drug driving at an earlier hearing, also pleading guilty to a charge of theft.

That related to the theft of £2 worth of chewing gum and chocolate from a convenience store in November 2023 after a 'disagreement' over the cost of a vape.

District judge Lucy Hogarth told Lee his actions had put others at risk and it was 'inconceivable' he had carried out the theft which she said was 'almost as serious' given he was a trainee officer.

She handed him 200 hours of unpaid work and he was banned from driving for two years.

She also ordered him to pay £2 compensation, a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.

Merseyside Police said Lee resigned in April.

An accelerated gross misconduct hearing the same month found he 'acted in a manner that has disrespect for the law' and he would have been dismissed without notice had he still been a serving officer.