A 73-year-old man has lost his license through drink driving after he mistakenly believed his car was in reverse – and crashing through a neighbour’s wall and into their porch.
Prosecuting, Stella Moses told Leicester Magistrates Court that the neighbour heard a vehicle revving outside his home just before the crash.
“He looked outside and saw his neighbour in a vehicle smash through the garden wall and hit the front of his porch,” said Ms Moses.
The witness then said that the driver came to his front door, saying “Please don’t call the police. I’ll pay for the damage.”
“He said this several times,” Ms Moses continued. When police arrived and went to the defendant’s front door “he was slurring his words and said he had been going to the ship and had managed to crash his car.”
A roadside breath test proved positive for alcohol, and further analysis following his arrest found him to have 91mcg alcohol per 100ml breath. The legal drink driving limit is 35mcg.
Mitigating, Beth McGovern said: “He put the car, he thought, into reverse. Actually, it was in drive and it went into the house next door.
“The damage is minor. He has knocked down a small garden wall and part of the porch was also damaged.”
Ms McGovern went on to add that following the incident her client recognised that he had a problem with alcohol and successfully completed a rehabilitation course, adding: “As a direct result of what happened, [the defendant] and his family decided they needed to do something and he went on that placement for two weeks. I’m told things are good now and it has helped him.”
After hearing a guilty plea to drink driving, magistrates banned him from driving for two years and imposed a fine of £250. He must also pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £34. The ban may be reduced on completion of the drink driving awareness course.
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.
