Newport drink driver was "all over the road"
A drink driver who failed to pull over when he was followed by a police car was found to be more than twice the limit.
Graphic designer Thomas John Stevens was “erratic and all over the road” when spotted by a police patrol driving his Audi on the B5112 near Caerwys, North Wales, on February 17, Flintshire Magistrates’ Court at Mold was told.
Prosecutor Justin Espie said: “The officer put his blue lights on but the defendant didn’t stop and continued weaving and under-steered at a roundabout.”
Stevens, 29, of St.Nicholas Park, Newport, clipped a kerb so hard one of his tyres deflated and eventually slowly came to a halt on the B5112.
When the officer approached the car, Stevens told him: “Well, you’ve done the right thing.”
Stevens, who ran his own business, had never been in trouble before, said David Matthews, defending.
He was ashamed and had said himself: “This is the biggest mistake I have made.”
The defendant was not a frequent drinker but had met up with a friend he had not seen for some time and had dinner with him - and drank too much wine.
Police found he had 97 miligrammes of alcohol in his breath compared to the legal limit of 35.
Stevens admitted drink driving and driving without insurance.
Mr Matthews said for the past 12 years his father had arranged his car insurance for him and his father had forgotten.
When Stevens had woken in the police cell his first concern was whether he had injured anyone.
Magistrates told Stevens it was a serious offence since his judgement had been seriously impaired.
He was ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work in the community.
Stevens was banned from driving for two years and he was fined £346 with £170 costs.
