Leeds nostalgia: Drink drive case from 1946 - man drove car with unconscious passenger handing out of door

According to a report in the Yorkshire Evening Post on November 21, 1946, the man in question drove his car while drunk with one of his passengers unconscious in the passenger side, slumped on the floor, his head and hands half way out of the door.

John T Scott, manager of North Gawber Collieries, Barnsley, was the man in the dock that day.

It was alleged he and a group of friends had consumed several glasses of “rum and peppermint”, before Scott offered to give the others sa lift home.

The report reads: “After closing time, Scott drove his car toward Wakefield with a young woman in the front and four people in the back. It was alleged that near Nostell Bridge, the car struck a wall, bounced into the middle of the road, then proceeded toward Wakefield, emitting sparks and smelling of burning rubber.

“ A little father on [the car] was seen to be swinging from side to side, a bang was heard as though a tyre had burst.

“One passenger in the front was sprawled on the floor with his head and arms dangling on the running board. Also, in the back were two unconscious young women [one of whom had been sick] while two other passengers were trying to push the car.”

It was alleged Scott got out of the scar, staggered about, fell over and then tried to get back in and drive away but he was stopped by passers by until the police arrived. They found him sat in the passenger seat with his head lolling around.

He was fined by magistrates £10, plus £8 5s 7d costs and banned from driving for 12 months.