A SERIAL drink driver who stole his father's powerful Mercedes killed a popular Sheffield biker in a head-on smash after downing six bottles of lager.
Dimitri Desmond Wright, aged 35, who has two previous convictions for drink driving and has never held a driving licence, was locked up for six years by a judge at Sheffield Crown Court.
Much-loved father and grandad Steven Eames, 51, was killed when Wright ploughed into his Harley Davidson as he overtook on Hemsworth Road, Norton, in September.
The court heard Wright had taken his father's black Mercedes Kompressor and gone to the pub to meet friends where he had drunk five or six bottles of lager.
He was overtaking on the wrong side of the road when he hit Mr Eames, killing him instantly.
Wright admitted driving over the prescribed limit and causing death by dangerous driving.
Banning Wright from driving for six years and ordering him to take an extended test, Judge Goldsack said Wright had two previous convictions for drink driving in 1995 and 2008.
Read more at http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Biker-death-drink-driver-jailed.6616638.jp
Monday, 8 November 2010
Friday, 5 November 2010
Anglesey drink-driver given a suspended prison sentence!
A drink-driver has been given a suspended prison sentence after travelling 10 miles the wrong way down a dual carriageway.
Businessman Steven Potts, 47, only stopped his VW Golf when police blocked him on the A55 on Anglesey, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.
The judge said it was "astounding" Potts had not killed anyone while three times over the limit.
In addition to a 52-week suspended prison sentence and a three year driving ban, Potts was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
Potts, of Gaerwen on the island, must attend a drink-impaired drivers' programme and also pass an extended driving test before getting back behind the wheel.
He was also ordered to pay £340 in court costs.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11695454
Businessman Steven Potts, 47, only stopped his VW Golf when police blocked him on the A55 on Anglesey, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.
The judge said it was "astounding" Potts had not killed anyone while three times over the limit.
In addition to a 52-week suspended prison sentence and a three year driving ban, Potts was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.
Potts, of Gaerwen on the island, must attend a drink-impaired drivers' programme and also pass an extended driving test before getting back behind the wheel.
He was also ordered to pay £340 in court costs.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-11695454
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Jail for A90 drink-driver!
A drink-driver who led a high-speed pursuit deemed too dangerous for police officers to continue has been jailed for three months.
Despite being a first time offender, Robert Wilson's actions were deemed serious enough by Sheriff Robert McCreadie to justify a custodial sentence.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how the 59-year-old initially fled from officers after fearing he would lose his licence as he was over the drink-driving limit.
In a bid to evade police he left Perth by the A90 after midnight before parking in a lay-by and switching off his lights.
The accused was later traced at his home and arrested.
Wilson, of Rose Hill Cottage, Glencarse, admitted that on August 10 he drove dangerously by reaching speeds of up to 100mph on the A90, 60mph in Glencarse and 90mph on other unclassified roads.
Sheriff McCreadie described the incident as "one of the worst" he had seen in the court and ignored pleas from Mr Ralph to consider community service as a direct alternative to custody.
"I don't know how narrow these roads are but driving at that speed in the dark is quite unconscionable," he said.
"The problem is that there comes a stage when the offence is so serious that a custodial sentence is the only option.
Wilson was also disqualified from holding and obtaining a licence for 10 years and ordered to sit an extended driving test.
Source: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Perthshire/article/7132c1/jail-for-a90-drink-driver-involved-in-high-speed-police-pursuit.html
Despite being a first time offender, Robert Wilson's actions were deemed serious enough by Sheriff Robert McCreadie to justify a custodial sentence.
Perth Sheriff Court heard how the 59-year-old initially fled from officers after fearing he would lose his licence as he was over the drink-driving limit.
In a bid to evade police he left Perth by the A90 after midnight before parking in a lay-by and switching off his lights.
The accused was later traced at his home and arrested.
Wilson, of Rose Hill Cottage, Glencarse, admitted that on August 10 he drove dangerously by reaching speeds of up to 100mph on the A90, 60mph in Glencarse and 90mph on other unclassified roads.
Sheriff McCreadie described the incident as "one of the worst" he had seen in the court and ignored pleas from Mr Ralph to consider community service as a direct alternative to custody.
"I don't know how narrow these roads are but driving at that speed in the dark is quite unconscionable," he said.
"The problem is that there comes a stage when the offence is so serious that a custodial sentence is the only option.
Wilson was also disqualified from holding and obtaining a licence for 10 years and ordered to sit an extended driving test.
Source: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Perthshire/article/7132c1/jail-for-a90-drink-driver-involved-in-high-speed-police-pursuit.html
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
One in four drink-drive in the UK!
A quarter of all motorists drink and drive but under-24s are less likely than their parents to break the law, a survey revealed yesterday.
Two-thirds of drivers also routinely break the speed limit and a third talk on hand-held phones, insurer Quinn-direct's poll found.
Joel Hickman, of road safety charity Brake, said governments had "profoundly failed" to stop drink driving.
Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/11/03/one-in-four-drink-drive-115875-22686850/
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Airman disqualified from driving!
Ignoring 'no entry' signs on a road led American Air Force mechanic Jordan Simmons to court for drink-driving.
Simmons, 25, was more than double the legal alcohol limit when police stopped him in Ely.
After being pulled over in Market Street at 11.30pm on October 8, he admitted to police that he had been drinking.
“He realises it was silly and is paying the consequences.” Magistrates disqualified Simmons from driving for 18 months and fined him £360.
Mary Rone, presiding magistrate, said: “Drink- driving is certainly not looked upon favourably in this country. The penalties we imposed reflect that.”
Simmons was ordered to pay £85 court costs.
Adapted from: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Airmans-wrong-turn-results-in-road-ban.htm
Simmons, 25, was more than double the legal alcohol limit when police stopped him in Ely.
After being pulled over in Market Street at 11.30pm on October 8, he admitted to police that he had been drinking.
“He realises it was silly and is paying the consequences.” Magistrates disqualified Simmons from driving for 18 months and fined him £360.
Mary Rone, presiding magistrate, said: “Drink- driving is certainly not looked upon favourably in this country. The penalties we imposed reflect that.”
Simmons was ordered to pay £85 court costs.
Adapted from: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Airmans-wrong-turn-results-in-road-ban.htm
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