A self-employed joiner has appeared before North Tyneside Magistrates after police spotted him driving unusually slowly in his van as he attempted to move it.
Prosecuting, Claire Irving told the court that in the early house of April 9 this year: “The defendant is seen driving slowly. He’s stopped because of that and it’s clear he’s under the influence of alcohol.”
After failing a roadside breath test he was found to have 100mcg alcohol per 100ml breath. The legal limit for drink driving is 35mcg.
It’s the second offence for the man who was arrested for drink driving in 2019. He was pulled over for a flat tyre he had acquired earlier that day after hitting a kerb while trying to avoid a dog. That was before he started drinking.
Mitigating for the latest incident, Michael Robinson explained that he had parked his van at a friend’s house before drinking: “The van was in an allocated parking space, which didn’t belong to his friend, so it had to be moved. He and a friend got in the van to move it a relatively short distance, which was less than a mile. The police followed then pulled him over.”
On sentencing, District Judge Kate Meek told the defendant: “You have already been on a driving course that is designed to ensure that, when you got your licence back, you would be equipped with the knowledge and information that should make you a safer driver and that you shouldn’t drive if you’ve drunk alcohol.
“It’s difficult to see how someone that went on that course made the decision to drive while under the influence again – it’s certainly confusing at best for me to understand. Offences of drink driving are always treated seriously and you’re walking towards a prison sentence if you carry on committing offences such as these.”
After hearing a guilty plea to drink driving, Judge Meek banned the man from driving for three years and bound him under an 18-month community order with 200 hours of unpaid work.
About Carl Millar
Carl Millar is a highly respected and experienced drink driving solicitor who is the principal of Millars Solicitors.
Carl has been a specialist in road traffic law for many years and represents clients from all walks of life and all over the Country. He is well known for the dogged defending of his clients and robust cross examination of police officers and exert witnesses.
With a wealth of expertise in motoring law Carl is well placed to provide advice over the phone and deal with all road traffic matters in a calm and professional way.
Getting in contact with Carl and Millars Solicitors is really easy. You can call him FREE on 0800 999 5535, or click here to send a confidential message.
