Telford man banned for second drink drive offence in three years

Daniel Smiga found himself back in court, where he was again banned from the road, this time for three years.

He was more than two times over the legal driving limit.

Smiga, 41, of Meadowlea, Madeley, admitted drink-driving and driving without a licence when he appeared at Telford Magistrates Court.

He was fined £220 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £22.

Smiga was automatically banned from driving for three years as a consequence of having two convictions within 10 years.

But he was offered the chance to reduce the ban by completing the drink-driver awareness course. Magistrates told him the course would give him the opportunity to change his behaviour in the future.

Miss Sara Beddow, prosecuting, said Smiga, a Slovakian national, was spoken to by police after he drove onto the forecourt of a petrol station.

He had 87 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 millilitres.

It was also found that Smiga did not have a valid British driving licence.

Speaking through an interpreter, Smiga said he did not want to say anything else in his defence.