A wealthy garage owner from Hampshire has been caught drink-driving a customer’s Audi Quattro, but has been cleared of theft after claiming he was simply taking the car on a test drive.
Jhalman Rai, 66, was stopped by police just before midnight while driving the Audi A5 Coupe erratically after leaving a pub. Rai, who owns a £1.1 million home, told officers he was “road testing” the 150mph vehicle, despite exhibiting slurred speech and unsteady footing. He insisted he had only consumed two pints.
The incident unfolded on August 4, when Rai was pulled over by police on a Southampton road. PC Russell Tribe, who stopped Rai, noted that the car suddenly veered onto the wrong side of the road. Rai was unable to walk in a straight line and appeared unsteady when exiting the vehicle. He provided a breath test reading of 59 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, surpassing the legal limit of 35.
Rai claimed that he needed to test drive the car to ensure a fuel leak had been fixed, as the owner, Albi Asimi, was due to collect the vehicle the next day. Rai argued that he believed he had the owner’s consent to test the car, a claim supported by his defence solicitor, Nick Robinson. Robinson emphasised that Rai’s actions were purely for business purposes and not for personal enjoyment.
The court heard that Mr Asimi had brought the car to Rai’s garage, J S Autos, on July 24 for repairs. Mr Asimi was aware that a test drive might be necessary but did not expect it to be taken to a pub. He expressed annoyance upon learning that Rai had driven the car while under the influence of alcohol.
Rai admitted to drink-driving but denied taking the vehicle without the owner’s consent. He was cleared of the theft charge by Southampton Magistrates’ Court. For the drink-driving offence, Rai was disqualified from driving for 40 months and ordered to pay a total of £785 in fines.
Superintendent Hassan Khan of Lancashire Police’s special operations reiterated the seriousness of drink-driving and the police’s commitment to road safety, especially during festive periods. He warned that impaired driving would continue to be a focus for law enforcement.
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.
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