- Valeriy Velychko, a 53 year Ukranian sailor was drunk six times the size of two foot pitches, operated a tanker and got into a tussle with a police officer.
- He was granted bail after hearing the vessel would be stuck in the UK without him.
- Velychko was warned he would be committing a further crime if he refused to return to England to be sentenced.
Dailystar reports an incident where a sailor who was at the helm of a bulk tanker was drunk six times over the limit.
About the incident
A 53 year old Ukranian sailor, Valeriy Velychko, got into a brawl with a police officer who had been called out to the 23,600-tonne ship Kohl 1.
The vessel was about to negotiate its way out of Teesport, near Middlesbrough, bound for Finland.
Velychko spent the weekend sobering up in police cells. He admitted being drunk while operating a ship and obstructing a police officer at Teesside Magistrates’ Court.
Agreement to grant bail
Proscutor Paul Doney urged JPs to remand the skipper in custody. They sent the case to Teesside Crown Court for sentencing but agreed to grant bail after hearing the vessel would be stuck in the UK without him.
David Dedman, mitigating, said: “There is a ship in Tees dock that cannot move without him because he is the shipmaster.”
As he was released from custody, Velychko was warned he would be committing a further crime if he refused to return to England to be sentenced.
Did you subscribe to our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: Dailystar
