A PARAMEDIC has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after ploughing into SIX vehicles on his way to a 999 call.
Two minibuses, a van and three cars were shunted as they queued to get on a roundabout.
No one was in the back of the 39-year-old's ambulance - but four people were taken to hospital, shaken by the force of the crash.
Police arrested the driver at the scene and had to close the busy dual carriageway for four hours.
East Midlands Ambulance Service said the driver has been suspended while the crash on the A52 in Stapleford, Notts, is investigated. He was bailed until January.
Adapted from: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3196523/East-Midlands-Ambulance-Service-suspend-paramedic-after-accident-on-suspicion-of-drink-driving.html
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Monday, 25 October 2010
Prosecutor Janine Bates' 'highly regarded' career in tatters for drink-driving!
A YOUNG prosecutor sobbed in the dock yesterday when she was banned from driving for three years after crashing her car into oncoming traffic while drunk.
Janine Bates, 30, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court, where she frequently worked as a prosecutor, after spending the night in the cells.
She pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge and one of careless driving which caused injury.
The court was told that the "highly regarded" fiscal's career was in tatters after her drunken car smash shame.
A passenger in the car she collided with suffered a dislocated little finger and received treatment at the city's Ninewells hospital.
Bates, of Dundee, was suspended from her post at the Crown Office yesterday and could lose her job.
In January, another Tayside fiscal, Anne Hart, 39, was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £400 after smashing into a parked car while drunk at the wheel.
Source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2010/10/22/highly-regarded-prosecutor-s-career-in-tatters-as-she-is-hit-with-car-ban-following-drink-drive-smash-86908-22650952/
Janine Bates, 30, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court, where she frequently worked as a prosecutor, after spending the night in the cells.
She pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge and one of careless driving which caused injury.
The court was told that the "highly regarded" fiscal's career was in tatters after her drunken car smash shame.
A passenger in the car she collided with suffered a dislocated little finger and received treatment at the city's Ninewells hospital.
Bates, of Dundee, was suspended from her post at the Crown Office yesterday and could lose her job.
In January, another Tayside fiscal, Anne Hart, 39, was banned from driving for 18 months and fined £400 after smashing into a parked car while drunk at the wheel.
Source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2010/10/22/highly-regarded-prosecutor-s-career-in-tatters-as-she-is-hit-with-car-ban-following-drink-drive-smash-86908-22650952/
Serious Consequences of drink-driving
Drink-driver killed in a horror crash!
A driver was nearly three times the drink drive limit when he died in a horror crash.
Scott Crick’s car hit trees more than 6ft above the ground after it left the road on the way home after a night out.
Mr Crick, 25, of Barnstock Field, Steeple Bumpstead, died at the scene of the crash at Great Bardfield.
His friend Oli Burkett, 26, of Great Bardfield, suffered critical head injuries but is now said to be recovering.
Source: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Driver-killed-in-crash-was-nearly-treble-limit-for-drink-inquest-told.htm
Leighton drink-driver disqualified from driving!
A MAN from Leighton has been disqualified from driving for 14 months after pleading guilty to drink driving.
Fred Robert Packer, 60, of Leighton, pleaded guilty to the charge at Welshpool Magistrates' Court.
Packer was disqualified from driving for 14 months, ordered to pay a £240 fine, £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.
Source: http://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/94731/leighton-drink-driver-hit-with-disqualification.aspx
Tonbridge drink-driver banned!
A MAN who admitted he tried to drive home when he was three times over the legal alcohol limit has been banned for three-and-a-half years.
Gordon Sellen, of London Road, Tonbridge, pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared before Sevenoaks Magistrates on Wednesday.
Sellen, who had a previous conviction for a similar offence, was disqualified from driving for 42 months and given a 12-month community order, including a drink-drive rehabilitation programme and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.
Source: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/tonbridge/Difficulty-ex-partner-drink-driver-banned/article-2782017-detail/article.html
A driver was nearly three times the drink drive limit when he died in a horror crash.
Scott Crick’s car hit trees more than 6ft above the ground after it left the road on the way home after a night out.
Mr Crick, 25, of Barnstock Field, Steeple Bumpstead, died at the scene of the crash at Great Bardfield.
His friend Oli Burkett, 26, of Great Bardfield, suffered critical head injuries but is now said to be recovering.
Source: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Driver-killed-in-crash-was-nearly-treble-limit-for-drink-inquest-told.htm
Leighton drink-driver disqualified from driving!
A MAN from Leighton has been disqualified from driving for 14 months after pleading guilty to drink driving.
Fred Robert Packer, 60, of Leighton, pleaded guilty to the charge at Welshpool Magistrates' Court.
Packer was disqualified from driving for 14 months, ordered to pay a £240 fine, £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.
Source: http://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/94731/leighton-drink-driver-hit-with-disqualification.aspx
Tonbridge drink-driver banned!
A MAN who admitted he tried to drive home when he was three times over the legal alcohol limit has been banned for three-and-a-half years.
Gordon Sellen, of London Road, Tonbridge, pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared before Sevenoaks Magistrates on Wednesday.
Sellen, who had a previous conviction for a similar offence, was disqualified from driving for 42 months and given a 12-month community order, including a drink-drive rehabilitation programme and 100 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.
Source: http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/tonbridge/Difficulty-ex-partner-drink-driver-banned/article-2782017-detail/article.html
Friday, 22 October 2010
Drink-driver jailed for six years for grandmother death crash
THE family of a woman killed by a drink-driver said his six-year jail term will never make up for the "trail of destruction" he has caused.
Jacqueline Trowbridge, 51, of Semley died when her motorbike collided with a Ford Focus on the A361 near Bridgwater at around 3.15pm on Sunday, August 22.
The uninsured car driver Paul Ardley, 23, of Street, who admitted causing the death of the grandmother by careless driving while over the alcohol limit, was jailed for six years at Taunton Crown Court on Thursday.
The court heard Ardley pulled out in front of Mrs Trowbridge as she passed a pub car park.
When Ardley entered his guilty plea a few weeks after the crash, he did not seek bail, and took the view that he should be punished.
Adapted from: http://www.thisisdorset.co.uk/westerngazette/Killer-s-jailing-ease-loss/article-2780322-detail/article.html
Jacqueline Trowbridge, 51, of Semley died when her motorbike collided with a Ford Focus on the A361 near Bridgwater at around 3.15pm on Sunday, August 22.
The uninsured car driver Paul Ardley, 23, of Street, who admitted causing the death of the grandmother by careless driving while over the alcohol limit, was jailed for six years at Taunton Crown Court on Thursday.
The court heard Ardley pulled out in front of Mrs Trowbridge as she passed a pub car park.
When Ardley entered his guilty plea a few weeks after the crash, he did not seek bail, and took the view that he should be punished.
Adapted from: http://www.thisisdorset.co.uk/westerngazette/Killer-s-jailing-ease-loss/article-2780322-detail/article.html
Disabled drink-driver who killed couple 'will go to jail'!
A disabled driver, close to three times the legal drink-drive limit, killed a family returning home from a Scottish country dance night in Arbroath, the High Court in Dundee was told today.
Alistair Ferrier (30), St Thomas Crescent, Arbroath, admitted causing the deaths in a crash by driving dangerously.
Retired HGV driver John Gibson (69) and his wife Isobella (68), Teviot Place, Montrose, were killed and their lifelong friend Gertrude Massie (71), also from Montrose, was critically injured in the accident on December 14, 2008.
Temporary judge Edward Bowen QC told Ferrier he was required by law to get background reports but added he should be in no doubt he would be jailed.
He deferred sentence to November 24 at the High Court in Edinburgh and remanded Ferrier in custody.
Source: http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2010/10/20/story15880257t0.shtm
Alistair Ferrier (30), St Thomas Crescent, Arbroath, admitted causing the deaths in a crash by driving dangerously.
Retired HGV driver John Gibson (69) and his wife Isobella (68), Teviot Place, Montrose, were killed and their lifelong friend Gertrude Massie (71), also from Montrose, was critically injured in the accident on December 14, 2008.
Temporary judge Edward Bowen QC told Ferrier he was required by law to get background reports but added he should be in no doubt he would be jailed.
He deferred sentence to November 24 at the High Court in Edinburgh and remanded Ferrier in custody.
Source: http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2010/10/20/story15880257t0.shtm
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Football Legend Gazza faces prison for drink-driving!
He swaggered into court winking and smiling at reporters yesterday as he prepared to face a charge of drink-driving while FOUR TIMES the limit.
But the cheeky grin quickly disappeared when fallen England football legend Paul Gascoigne admitted it - and was told he faces jail for his latest boozy escapade.
Gazza, 43, looked visibly shaken as he was given an immediate driving ban and warned he could be banged up for three months.
The court heard he gave a reading of 142mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when stopped by police. The limit is 35mg.
Later it was revealed the troubled star - who faces ANOTHER drink-drive hearing on November 3 - made friends with a veteran boozer while waiting for the case to begin.
John Ventress, 58 - up on a drunk and disorderly charge - wept as he told how he met Gazza in the court toilets.
He said: "I'm an alcoholic too and I gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. I told him he'd lost a load of weight and he said, 'Don't worry, I am putting it back on, I am coming back'. He gave me his autograph and said he hopes to get out of going to prison."
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
High flyer faces to ruin her career after being caught drink driving!
A high-flying Labour party barrister hailed as the 'next Cherie Blair' was facing career ruin today after she admitted causing a drink-driving smash.
Human rights lawyer Emily Lomax, 37, was three times the limit when her Nissan Micra ploughed into two other cars which had stopped at traffic lights.
It later emerged she had been drinking vodka and orange during the afternoon because she wanted to 'steel herself for a difficult phone call.'
She couldn't even remember the collision itself which left one of the drivers with minor injuries.
After the accident, Lomax quit as Labour councillor for the Hulme area of Manchester.
She now faces a professional disciplinary hearing to decide if she can return to work at a law chambers in Manchester where her political beliefs and 'dynamic and fearless' advocacy style drew comparisons with the former prime minister's wife. At Manchester magistrates court Lomax, of Levenshulme, was fined £995 and banned from the roads for 21 months after admitting drink-driving.
The incident occurred on September 14 whilst Lomax - a member of Amnesty International, Liberty and the Haldane Society of Socialist lawyers - was on her way to a council meeting.
Sheila Graham, prosecuting, said the barrister approached a set of red traffic lights in Longsight but failed to stop in time and hit a Honda Accord and a Toyota Yaris.
Tests showed Lomax had 108 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 mililitres of breath with the legal limit being 35mg.
Lomax suffered minor facial injuries when her car airbag inflated on impact.
'In her professional life she will have to account for her actions, and account for why this has happened. She should know better and she accepts that. She will already receive more penalties than a defendant without Miss Lomax's background.
'She has to start again, she has lost everything, and she had a glittering career ahead of her.'
Lomax told JPs: 'I am deeply ashamed at having committed this offence and it's going to be difficult to come back from in my professional life.
Passing sentence, Dr Adrian Curtis said: 'Driving with excess alcohol holds a community penalty and this will be high in your case.
'Your actions were reckless, negligent and a danger to the public.'
Adapted from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1321506/Labour-barrister-Emily-Lomax-faces-career-ruin-drink-drive-shame.html#ixzz12uNusv84
Man gets caught drink driving the morning after a night of drinking!
A MAN arrested for drink driving had been drinking heavily at a party the night before.
Frederick Hobbs, aged 20, of Truro Gardens, Ronkswood, Worcester, was caught with 41mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mcg – when he was arrested by police at 9.45am, nearly six hours after crashing into a car.
Sarah Stock, prosecuting, said Hobbs had been at a birthday party at an address on Diglis Lane on Saturday, October 2, where he had been drinking heavily.
“He left the party at 3.50am and drove along the lane to his girlfriend’s house and drove straight into the back of an Audi A4,” said Mrs Stock.
“He rang his friends who came to help him move the car back on the right side of the road. He didn’t tell police or try to find the owner.”
Hobbs was arrested after being located at the address on Diglis Lane.
He originally told police his car had been stolen but later admitted the offence, saying he lied to the officers because he was scared and did not know what to do.
Hobbs pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.
Mark Turnbull, defending, said: “He is a young man who knows the decision he made was really very daft.
“The damage to his car was extensive, but the Audi had relatively little damage.
“His car has been written off. It was an extremely foolish decision.
“He realised almost immediately he shouldn’t have done it.”
District judge Bruce Morgan said: “Drink-driving is a dangerous offence, especially given the amount of alcohol you must have had in your system.”
Hobbs was fined £300 and was disqualified from driving for two years. He must pay £250 compensation, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Source: http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/local/8461362.Drink_driver_crashed_into_car/
Frederick Hobbs, aged 20, of Truro Gardens, Ronkswood, Worcester, was caught with 41mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35mcg – when he was arrested by police at 9.45am, nearly six hours after crashing into a car.
Sarah Stock, prosecuting, said Hobbs had been at a birthday party at an address on Diglis Lane on Saturday, October 2, where he had been drinking heavily.
“He left the party at 3.50am and drove along the lane to his girlfriend’s house and drove straight into the back of an Audi A4,” said Mrs Stock.
“He rang his friends who came to help him move the car back on the right side of the road. He didn’t tell police or try to find the owner.”
Hobbs was arrested after being located at the address on Diglis Lane.
He originally told police his car had been stolen but later admitted the offence, saying he lied to the officers because he was scared and did not know what to do.
Hobbs pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop after an accident when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.
Mark Turnbull, defending, said: “He is a young man who knows the decision he made was really very daft.
“The damage to his car was extensive, but the Audi had relatively little damage.
“His car has been written off. It was an extremely foolish decision.
“He realised almost immediately he shouldn’t have done it.”
District judge Bruce Morgan said: “Drink-driving is a dangerous offence, especially given the amount of alcohol you must have had in your system.”
Hobbs was fined £300 and was disqualified from driving for two years. He must pay £250 compensation, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Source: http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/local/8461362.Drink_driver_crashed_into_car/
Friday, 8 October 2010
Drink driver lost job, wife and licence
A MAN who lost his job and was dumped by his spouse all on the same day chose to drown his sorrows with a bottle of whisky before driving his van.
Christopher Mayle (26) admitted at Inverness Sheriff Court on Tuesday drink driving and being in possession of a fishing knife.
Depute fiscal Heather Swan said: "Around 11.40pm a member of the public was camping at the side of the canal in Fort Augustus. He heard a vehicle approaching, he saw a white van which was being driven by Mayle.
"The member of the public could see Mayle was holding a long shiny object, but couldn't see what it was. Mayle then drove away and the member of the public saw a knife and picked it up and returned to his tent."
Ms Swan said police had been advised of the situation and officers were doing a patrol of the A82 when they came across Mayle in his van.
Mayle was breathalysed and was found to be over the limit and his response when he was shown the knife was that he had split up with his partner and everything he owned was in the van.
The court heard Mayle gave police officers one specimen of breath as part of the drink driving procedure, but refused to give another.
Defence solicitor Craig Wood said Mayle lost his job of two years and then returned home and was chased out of the house by his spouse.
He said: "He bought a bottle of whisky and drove to Fort Augustus.
"His knife was a pairing knife, which is a fishing knife, and he says he has no memory of taking it out of the car."
Mayle, of Glasgow, admitted on July 28 at Oich Road, Fort Augustus, having in his possession a pairing knife.
He also admitted on the same date on the A82 Inverness to Fort William road near Invergarry, driving a van after consuming 83 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the prescribed limit is 35 micrograms.
He also pled guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath at Burnett Road Police Station in Inverness.
Sheriff Andrew Berry fined Mayle £150 for possession of the pairing knife and fined him another £300 for drink driving.
Mayle was also disqualified from driving for 18 months
Christopher Mayle (26) admitted at Inverness Sheriff Court on Tuesday drink driving and being in possession of a fishing knife.
Depute fiscal Heather Swan said: "Around 11.40pm a member of the public was camping at the side of the canal in Fort Augustus. He heard a vehicle approaching, he saw a white van which was being driven by Mayle.
"The member of the public could see Mayle was holding a long shiny object, but couldn't see what it was. Mayle then drove away and the member of the public saw a knife and picked it up and returned to his tent."
Ms Swan said police had been advised of the situation and officers were doing a patrol of the A82 when they came across Mayle in his van.
Mayle was breathalysed and was found to be over the limit and his response when he was shown the knife was that he had split up with his partner and everything he owned was in the van.
The court heard Mayle gave police officers one specimen of breath as part of the drink driving procedure, but refused to give another.
Defence solicitor Craig Wood said Mayle lost his job of two years and then returned home and was chased out of the house by his spouse.
He said: "He bought a bottle of whisky and drove to Fort Augustus.
"His knife was a pairing knife, which is a fishing knife, and he says he has no memory of taking it out of the car."
Mayle, of Glasgow, admitted on July 28 at Oich Road, Fort Augustus, having in his possession a pairing knife.
He also admitted on the same date on the A82 Inverness to Fort William road near Invergarry, driving a van after consuming 83 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the prescribed limit is 35 micrograms.
He also pled guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath at Burnett Road Police Station in Inverness.
Sheriff Andrew Berry fined Mayle £150 for possession of the pairing knife and fined him another £300 for drink driving.
Mayle was also disqualified from driving for 18 months
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Police lied to persuade CCTV staff to monitor drink-drive suspects
Officers in Devon were said to have regularly asked operators to watch for people who might be over the drink-drive limit by making up false information about them.
Campaign group Liberty said the disclosure was a reminder that there was scope for CCTV cameras to be abused. Adrian Sanders, the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, said the practice was unacceptable. "There are strict guidelines between the sharing of intelligence between police and other agencies and similar controls with what happens as a result of sharing that intelligence," he said.
The practice was revealed by the case of John Joseph, 54, of Torbay, after he parked his car outside a pub in 2007. A police officer asked CCTV operators to watch Joseph, also known as calypso, reggae and soca singer and performance poet Antigua Joe, who was later arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and put in handcuffs and leg restraints. A breath test proved negative.
Joseph was awarded £17,500 compensation after complaining about his arrest. A police standards investigation rejected Joseph's allegation that he was targeted because of his race. But a report into the case flagged up an admission by one officer involved that he invented intelligence about Joseph to get the CCTV operators to watch him.
"To get the council CCTV control room personnel to watch the vehicle he [the police officer] would have to give them a good reason for doing so. In order to do this he had told them he knew the occupant very well and knew he would be drinking," the report said.
"[The officer] admitted this was invented by him and a lie. He went on to say that he and his colleagues targeted vehicles outside public houses and regularly persuaded CCTV operators to watch vehicles by inventing intelligence."
Joseph was charged with resisting arrest and a public order offence but cleared on both counts. He was held for nine hours after his arrest in 2007. The report said Joseph's detention was unlawful.
A complaint against the officer of "falsehood and prevarication by making a false report to CCTV operators" was upheld.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police's professional standards department said: "Mr Joseph did make a complaint against police following his arrest. Elements of his complaints were found to be proven and a number of officers received a range of sanctions as a result."
The force refused to comment on the use of CCTV.
Campaign group Liberty said the disclosure was a reminder that there was scope for CCTV cameras to be abused. Adrian Sanders, the Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay, said the practice was unacceptable. "There are strict guidelines between the sharing of intelligence between police and other agencies and similar controls with what happens as a result of sharing that intelligence," he said.
The practice was revealed by the case of John Joseph, 54, of Torbay, after he parked his car outside a pub in 2007. A police officer asked CCTV operators to watch Joseph, also known as calypso, reggae and soca singer and performance poet Antigua Joe, who was later arrested on suspicion of drink-driving and put in handcuffs and leg restraints. A breath test proved negative.
Joseph was awarded £17,500 compensation after complaining about his arrest. A police standards investigation rejected Joseph's allegation that he was targeted because of his race. But a report into the case flagged up an admission by one officer involved that he invented intelligence about Joseph to get the CCTV operators to watch him.
"To get the council CCTV control room personnel to watch the vehicle he [the police officer] would have to give them a good reason for doing so. In order to do this he had told them he knew the occupant very well and knew he would be drinking," the report said.
"[The officer] admitted this was invented by him and a lie. He went on to say that he and his colleagues targeted vehicles outside public houses and regularly persuaded CCTV operators to watch vehicles by inventing intelligence."
Joseph was charged with resisting arrest and a public order offence but cleared on both counts. He was held for nine hours after his arrest in 2007. The report said Joseph's detention was unlawful.
A complaint against the officer of "falsehood and prevarication by making a false report to CCTV operators" was upheld.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police's professional standards department said: "Mr Joseph did make a complaint against police following his arrest. Elements of his complaints were found to be proven and a number of officers received a range of sanctions as a result."
The force refused to comment on the use of CCTV.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Drink driving costs more than just a fine, in this case £1390 more!
What could happen to me if i didnt tell insurance company?
Question by confused me: what could happen to me if i didnt tell insurance company?
that i was done for drink drive 3 yrs ago… wana apply for my licence back have checked insurance and said i have a drink drive conviction will cost £1,790….when i dont say then it costs me 400 quid… what do i do and what can happen and how wld they find out and who can find out….. thanx all in advance x
Best answer:
They have access to that information anyhow – via the DVLA so not worth lying.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Question by confused me: what could happen to me if i didnt tell insurance company?
that i was done for drink drive 3 yrs ago… wana apply for my licence back have checked insurance and said i have a drink drive conviction will cost £1,790….when i dont say then it costs me 400 quid… what do i do and what can happen and how wld they find out and who can find out….. thanx all in advance x
Best answer:
They have access to that information anyhow – via the DVLA so not worth lying.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Costly Consequences Of Drink Driving
A teenage drunk driver from Maidstone had three times the legal limit of alcohol when she failed a road side breath test.
Jasmin Jade Grant, 18, of Sutton Road, Maidstone, pleaded guilty to drink driving at Faversham and Sittingbourne Magistrates Court.
On July 4, Grant drove a silver Ford Fiesta on Lower Road, Sheerness, while exceeding the drink drive limit.
She had 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Grant was disqualified from driving for a year, which will be reduced by three months if she completes a drink-drive course costing £188.
She was also given a £100 benefit reduction and ordered to pay an £85 fine and £15 costs.
Jasmin Jade Grant, 18, of Sutton Road, Maidstone, pleaded guilty to drink driving at Faversham and Sittingbourne Magistrates Court.
On July 4, Grant drove a silver Ford Fiesta on Lower Road, Sheerness, while exceeding the drink drive limit.
She had 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Grant was disqualified from driving for a year, which will be reduced by three months if she completes a drink-drive course costing £188.
She was also given a £100 benefit reduction and ordered to pay an £85 fine and £15 costs.
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