An Isle of Wight man who was caught passed out in his car whilst drunk, with the engine running and his mobile phone in his hand, has been slapped with 10 points on his driving licence.
Ashley Whitestone, 36, of no fixed abode, appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court this morning (Tuesday) charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle whilst alcohol level above limit.
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that Police were called to the High Street in Newport at just gone 22:00 on 6th October to reports of a man appearing to be in a drunken state and stumbling into his vehicle.
Officers responded and found Whitestone passed out in the wheel of his Citroen van. The engine was running, the lights were on and the 36-year-old had his mobile phone in his hand.
When roused by Police, Whitestone said that he hadn’t been asleep but was in fact making a phone call. He made admissions that he had consumed 2 pints of alcohol.
The local builder was arrested and taken the short distance to Newport P0lice Station, where he gave an evidential reading of 86. The legal limit is 35.
Representing himself in court, Whitestone addressed the bench to say that he apologised and that it was a silly mistake. He said he held his hands up.
Magistrates heard Whitestone had previously racked up 8 points on his licence, but those points fell off just days before the offence.
Considering his guilty plea and representations, Magistrates handed Ashley Whitestone 10 points on his licence – stopping short of handing him a driving ban.
He was also fined £450 and ordered to pay £85 costs with a £180 surcharge.
Until these selfish B’stards are banged up
Drink Driving will never stop.
Why was this drunk not disqualified and how many times in the last few months have we
heard of drunk tradesman being prosecuted. No wonder our tradesman are so poor
they are too drunk to do the work.
And many of them are drugged up too
If of NO fixed abode, how does he insure or tax the vehicle with no address!
And surely he needs an address to register his business at…..oh yes, probably not registered so probably not putting anything through the books.
So being DRUNK in charge of a motor vehicle is no longer a driving ban? That’s handy to know
It never was, being “In charge” is different than “Drink driving”.
So ‘held his hands up’, maybe in admitting to drinking two pints but a reading of eighty four is a hell of a lot more which he hasn’t admitted to.
2 pints of what though????