Drink-driving businessman crashed into wall on way to pick up …
Drink-driver Peter Davis crashed into a wall when more than four times the legal limit on his way to the fish and chip shop. The 53-year-old had been drinking before he got into his Ford Transit van and drove into a wall at Waterhouses, near Leek[1], on September 2.
Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre[2] members of the public were concerned Davis was drunk and called the police. Another witness reported he had struck a wall at 7.30pm.
Miss Swindail said: "Police attended and found the van which had damage to its front bumper. Officers could smell alcohol on Davis and he was slurring his speech.
READ: Drunken neighbour strangled, beat and slapped elderly couple in terrifying attack Gurjap Singh, aged 41, has been spared jail following the vicious assault[3]
READ: Grizzled face of man who's been flogging monkey dust in Fenton for years Benefit claimant Wayne Forrester, 57, was caught selling the drug twice in the space of a month[4]
"He was breathalysed and gave a reading of 147 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, more than four times the legal limit of 35."
Davis, of Breech Close, Waterhouses[5], pleaded guilty to drink-driving. The court heard he has a previous conviction for the same offence in 2002.
Richard Oldroyd, mitigating, said Davis has always been a hard worker. He has undergone some rehabilitation to address his drink problem.
Mr Oldroyd said: "He used alcohol as a prop. The problem got out of hand.
"He has done everything he can to try and help himself. He drank far too much on the day in question. He had gone out to a chip shop. It was a short distance he drove and he was spotted by members of the public who reported the matter to the police."
He said Davis ran a marquee events business but that was forced to close during lockdown. He then became a lorry driver but his mental health could not cope with that job. He and his wife have recently started a garden maintenance company.
Mr Oldroyd added: "He is embarrassed by the offence. He apologises to the court."
Magistrates sentenced Davis to 17 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, with a rehabilitation activity requirement for 10 days and a six month alcohol treatment requirement. He was banned from driving for three years.
He was ordered to pay £135 costs and a £154 surcharge. His ban will be reduced by 36 weeks if he completes a drink-drivers' rehabilitation course.
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References
- ^ Leek (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ North Staffordshire Justice Centre (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Drunken neighbour strangled, beat and slapped elderly couple in terrifying attack (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Grizzled face of man who's been flogging monkey dust in Fenton for years (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ Waterhouses (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
- ^ COURT AND CRIME NEWSLETTER: Sign up for email (data.reachplc.com)
- ^ alerts direct to your inbox (data.reachplc.com)