A man who was found slumped behind the wheel having driven home drunk has been handed a 2-year driving ban.
Tomas Vicas, 41, of Osborne Road in East Cowes, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court earlier this week (Tuesday).
Ann Smout, prosecuting, told the court that at around 22:00 on 22nd January, Vicas was reported by his neighbour after being seen moving in his car and then reversing.
When Police arrived at the scene, they noticed Vicas slumped at the wheel nearly asleep. He appeared to officers that he was under the influence of alcohol and had slurred speech, glazed eyes and was unsteady on his feet when he was asked to get out of his vehicle.
Officers asked Vicas to conduct a roadside breath test but he refused, doing the same when he was taken to Newport Police Station too.
Defending, Oscar Vincent, told the court that his client had gone fishing down at East Cowes seafront and that despite having drunk some alcohol he did feel okay to drive.
He added that the skilled labourer had a history of alcohol use with long periods of abstinence.
Vicas was handed a 24-month driving ban and sentenced to a 9-month community with a 60-day alcohol abstinence requirement. He was also ordered to pay costs of £85 and a £114 victim surcharge fee.
No they shouldn’t get a ban they should take there driving test again
Maybe you should take a spelling test also
And he is no doubt already back behind the wheel.
WTF ! Not with neighbours like that he won’t.
I’m in now way condoning what this person has done, but I would like to know who the ‘victim’ is to justify a £114 surcharge?
The Surcharge is a charge imposed on offenders by the court with the purpose of ensuring that offenders hold some responsibility towards the cost of supporting victims and witnesses
It really annoys me, mthe person is guilty, but the defender uses any excuse to try to make it as though the person has a reason for being less guilty….
Why? Guilty is guilty !
I’m not certain you understand the role of the defendant’s representative.
Good on the neighbour for doing the correct thing. Too many cretins would of said its not my problem and left him to go and kill someone. So Well-done to the neighbour.
Well said plus the driver should be banned for 10 years and have his car scrapped.
That’s when good neighbours become good friends.
Tomas Tomas Tomas !
Gonna be an interesting relationship with the neighbour’s now!
About time they did zero tolerance, crushed car, £1000 fine , retake test, end of !