Drink-driving gardener caused three-car Pork Pie smash

A drink-driving landscape gardener who caused a three-car shunt on the Pork Pie Roundabout in Wigston has lost his licence - along with his business. Botsalano Ramdeko told magistrates he was the only worker in the business that he owns who can drive.

At Leicester Magistrates' Court^[1] on Monday he was banned from driving for 20 months and he told them he would have to shut the company down. The court heard Ramdeko had been driving home from a night of drinking at a friend's house at about 8.30am on Saturday, September 30, when he crashed his BMW 320d on the roundabout on Saffron Lane.

He went into the back of a car ahead of him, knocking that vehicle into a third car up ahead. Ramdeko, 42, of Slate Way, Glenfield^[2], was breathalysed by Leicestershire Police^[3] and the reading was 80 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Representing himself in court, Ramdeko told the magistrates: "I was at my friend's house and we was drinking throughout the night. I tried to sleep it off but misjudged. I was going home because I had to take my son to football."

When asked about his business he replied: "It's my business and I employ other people but I'm the only driver. I'll have to fold it without my licence."

Ramdeko was also fined £184 and ordered to pay a £74 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

References

1. ^{^} Leicester Magistrates' Court (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
2. ^{^} Glenfield (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Leicestershire Police (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Why is Pork Pie roundabout in Wigston called that? (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)