A man who was jailed for attacking disabled pensioner Alan Barnes has found himself in the dock again for drink driving.
Richard Gatiss was given a four-year prison sentence in 2015 after he assaulted Mr Barnes in Low Fell .
Registered blind and standing just 4ft 6ins tall, the 69-year-old victim was left with a broken collarbone.
The incident shocked the nation and around £330,000 was raised for Mr Barnes through an online fundraising drive.
Now Gatiss, of Split Crow Road, Gateshead , has appeared in court charged with driving with alcohol level above limit, driving without a licence and without insurance.
The 30-year-old pleaded guilty to the allegations at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Ami Dodd said the offences took place at around 9pm on June 21 when a witness, who was on a night out in Newcastle with friends, saw a car crash into a barrier.
Ms Dodd added: "The witness was standing outside the Percy Arms having a cigarette. He saw the defendant driving a blue Renault Scenic, coming out of a car park and onto Morden Street. He said it was 'like a bat out of hell'."
The vehicle then crashed into a barrier. The driver and his passenger tried to reverse the car out and dislodge it from the barrier, the court heard.
Gatiss was also shouting at members of the public, telling them to "f*** off", Ms Dodd added.
In a statement to the court, the witness said: "They could have hit somebody. They did not show remorse."
The police arrived at the scene and Gatiss was later charged with drink driving. It was found he had 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 35mg.
Ms Dodd told the court : "The defendant was carrying a passenger and he was involved in an incident. It was an unacceptable standard of driving."
Gatiss, who was not represented by a solicitor, was asked if he wanted to say anything in relation to the offences. He said he didn't.
The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports to be prepared and the defendant was released on unconditional bail until the next hearing on August 13.
